BA seeks ban on export of livestock

The Baloch Hal News

QUETTA: The Balochistan Assembly (BA) on Friday unanimously adopted an adjournment resolution seeking curb on smuggling of precious livestock of province to neighbouring countries and demanded to federal government impose ban on issuance of permit regarding export.

Speaker Mohammad Aslam Bhoothani chaired the session here on Friday. Member of PMLQ Jaffar Mandokhal spoke on admissibility of adjournment motion which was approved for two hours debate on last session.

“Smuggling of hug quantity of animals including cow, goat, Camel and sheep are being to Afghanistan, Iran and medal east which causing depletion of precious live stock. Massive smuggling of flocks and cattle were the main causes of price hike of mutton and beef,” he said adding that if appropriate steps were not taken the prices would go above to the approach of common.

He demanded ban on export of Balochistan’s livestock and asked the government take up the issue seriously. He also suggested increase in allocation of livestock.

Ministers Mohammad Nawaz, Mir Asim Kurd, Sarwer Musakhel, Nasrin Kihtran and Jan Ali Changezi supported the motion as saying majority in Balochistan rely on agriculture and livestock, thus it is a curial issue and policy regarding issuance of permit should be reviewed. They said that dozens of trucks loaded with animals could be witnessed on Dalbandin, bordering township with Iran, and Chaman, bordering area with Afghanistan.

They also emphasized that Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners should be authorized to control the smuggling in concerned areas rather than empowering custom and Frontier Corps who they alleged involved in smuggling of cattle.

Home Minister Mir Zafar Zehri referring to questions suggested that federal government issues permits for export but as far as provincial government concerned the government ordered to the concerned Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners to control the smuggling in districts level. “If the matter given to Chief Minister and Finance Minister regarding review the permit they could solve the problem in a good way because they have good understanding with federal government,” Home minister suggested.

Members asked the speaker to approve the law as a resolution so it would be better way to present the important issue before the federal government. The house adopted the adjournment motion in form of resolution.

Earlier, Jaffar Mandokhel tabled an adjournment motion regarding the skin disease said the mysterious disease so far claimed 60 lives in Landi Khosa town of Kachhi district and Health department confirmed loss of 18 lives due to skin disease.

Talking to its admissibility he said people have been suffering for past several years but heath department is not paying attention to this important humanitarian issue. “We are completely blank that how many areas are affected and it is incurable or not,” said Jaffar adding that if safety measures were not taken the disease will prevail throughout Balochistan.

He severely criticized the health ministry and said government is just focused on provincial government and neglecting interior Balochistan where children and women are being killed due to certain diseases.

Saleem Khosa said it was 50 year old disease and emerged last March while the affected children were brought to Quetta for medical treatment. He said samples had been sent to London for medical test then we would be able to judge about disease whether it is incurable or not.

Finance minister Mir Asim Kurd, Sardar Aslam Bizenjo, Zahor Buledi and Agha Irfan Karim supported the motion and asked the government to provide medical facilities to the affected children and shift them Karachi or Islamabad.

Minister Health said he was visited at Landi Khosa and conducted complete inquiry, “it was incurable disease and it can not prevail,” he said adding that affected people were provided medical facilities.

Chief Minister announced that government will bear all expenses of medical treatment whether they want to Karachi or Islamabad.

Speaker Balochistan assembly handled the motion after assurance of Chief Minister.