Fungus on the meat; UAE bans meat import from Pakistan

Dubai: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has banned the import of frozen meat from Pakistan through sea route after allegedly finding fungus in a consignment of meat. The ban will be in effect until October 10. Meanwhile, the UAE has given conditional permission for the delivery of meat from Pakistan by air. Faisal Hussain, head of Organic Meat Company Limited in Karachi, responded that the UAE’s action will affect Pakistan’s total exports. Shipping meat by air to Pakistan is very difficult and expensive way.

Pakistan is one of the largest exporters of meat to the UAE. Meat worth $12 million is exported to the UAE every month from Pakistan. After eight years of restrictions, the import of meat from Pakistan was allowed in 2017. Pakistan mainly exports Pakistani meat to Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and UAE.