09-14-2006, 04:50 AM
[center]<b><span style='font-size:14pt;line-height:100%'>Imported poultry feed contained pork, NA told</span></b> <!--emo&:flush--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/Flush.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='Flush.gif' /><!--endemo--> [/center]
<b>ISLAMABAD : Minister for Finance Omar Ayub Khan made a stunning disclosure in the National Assembly here on Wednesday when he said that 137 containers of poultry feed containing pork were imported into the country.
The minister said the consignments came through the Karachi Port, Bin Qasim Port and Lahore Dry Port in December 2005.
Though the minister did not give the exact figures, but formally confirmed that at least 137 containers of the feed containing pork had arrived at these ports.</b>
MNA Dr Farid Ahmed Paracha had asked the minister whether it was fact that 35 containers of imported poultry feed, which contained pork, were confiscated by customs authorities in December 2005 and if so the disposal of the said feed.
Replying to the question, Omar Ayub said it was true that 137 containers, said to contain organic fertilisers and plant growth regulators, were imported at Karachi Port, Port Mohammad Bin Qasim and Lahore Dry Port. He said at the time of examinations, samples were drawn from the imported consignments and sent to the PCSIR laboratories for testing. He said on the basis of these test reports, which confirmed the presence of pork contents, the containers were confiscated by the customs authorities.
Replying to the second part of the question, the minister said importers of these confiscated consignments have filed appeals against the confiscation orders.
He said 56 containers were confiscated by Port Qasim authorities. Likewise, appeals against them have been rejected. Omar said appeals against 45 containers confiscated by the Appraisement Collectorate are sub judice at the appellate forum. He said Lahore Collectorate has confiscated 36 containers. There is still a time to file appeals against this confiscation, he added.
Cheers <!--emo&:beer--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cheers.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='cheers.gif' /><!--endemo-->