ISLAMABAD, Feb 7: The government of Saudi Arabia is likely to lift ban on meat import from Pakistan shortly.

A senior official in the Ministry of Commerce told Dawn on Thursday that a four-member Saudi technical delegation is scheduled to arrive in Pakistan on February 9 in this connection.

The Saudi government had imposed a ban on import of meat from all major sources including Pakistan in March 2001 on the basis of reports of outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.

The delegation comprises Dr Sameer bin Awad Sabban, Ministry of Health; Abdullah bin Durai Al Anzi, Dr (DVM) Mustafa bin Mohammad Awaidah, Ministry of Commerce and Dr (DVM) Abdul Aziz bin Ibrahim Al Fayez, Ministry of Agriculture and Water.