KARACHI, Oct 18: Australian High Commissioner Peter Heyward has welcomed the settlement of proceedings in the Sindh High Court, says a statement issued on Thursday.

“This will allow approximately 11,000 Australian merino sheep exported to Pakistan to be processed as intended. Independent international laboratory tests have confirmed the sheep are disease-free and fit for human consumption,” it states.

The high commissioner said: “I am pleased that the Australian Government, Wellard Rural Exports, and PK Livestock’s position that the sheep are and always were healthy and fit for human consumption has been confirmed. It is unfortunate that this only occurred after the culling of approximately half of the flock at great cost to the importer.”

Australia’s two-way trade with Pakistan is approximately AU$600 million, and significant potential exists to increase this with improved trade in agriculture and agribusiness.

Australia’s agriculture trade with Pakistan consists of the export of seeds, grains and pulses, as well as high quality dairy breeding stock, it says.—Staff Reporter