KARACHI, May 7: Pakistan Tanners Association (PTA) chairman Khawaja M Yousuf appreciated government decision for allowing duty free import of one million live animals from India and neighbouring countries. In a statement issued on Saturday, he said that this would not only meet the requirements of meat at cheaper rates but would also have sufficient quantity of raw hides and skins to meet the leather industry requirements.

The PTA chief demanded that such imports should also be allowed from other neighbouring countries so that Pakistani importers of livestock would have choice to import from more than one source. He also suggested that the quantity condition for import of live animals should also be removed and official notification be issued to remove any bureaucratic snags.