WAGAH, Sept 6: A consignment of Indian livestock crossed the border into Pakistan Tuesday in what was described as the first-ever such export shipment, after Islamabad abolished a tax amid warming ties.

Indian custom authorities at the Wagah border crossing point said it was the first-ever such consignment.

The 334 goats and sheep were sent as a sample by a Delhi-based businessman to a Lahore-based trading company with the aim of exporting more in future months, said an official in the northern Indian state of Punjab.

Earlier this year Pakistan scrapped a surcharge on the import of livestock from India to boost trade.

Pakistan also scrapped import duties in July on 13 commodities from India that are scarce in Pakistani markets — including garlic, onions, potatoes, tomatoes, livestock and halal meat.

The two sides reopened trade across the border at Wagah the same month, with the first consignment of garlic transported to merchants in Pakistan.—AFP