ISLAMABAD, July 16: The exporters of livestock have demanded of the government to allow free export of animals to Iran and Afghanistan.

Sources in the Ministry of Commerce told Dawn that livestock exporters from Balochistan have sent a request to government seeking withdrawal of restriction on the free export of livestock from the province.

Balochistan government has imposed section 144 in the border districts forbidding the movement of livestock aiming apparently to cope with the shortage of livestock in the province.

Only those exporters would be allowed to export livestock, who were issued NOC by the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock.

Answering a question, the sources said that there was no such restriction under export policy. The exporters were of the opinion that the restriction has rather encouraged the smuggling of the livestock from the province.