Pakistan expects the lifting of the ban on the export of all types of poultry from Pakistan by the UAE shortly that will enhance the current trade volume of food products by up to $200 million per annum, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UAE Asif Durrani has told Khaleej Times.

"It’s a matter of pride and pleasure to convey that persistent efforts of the Pakistan Mission has been successful and ban on exports of Pakistani poultry to UAE will be lifted after the inspection of poultry infrastructure in Pakistan by a UAE team of experts," Mr Durrani explained.

Last month, UAE Ambassador in Pakistan Essa Abdulla Al Basha Al Noaimi met Minister for National Food Security and Research Sikandar Hayat Bosan and agreed that the UAE would soon send a team of experts to inspect poultry infrastructure in Pakistan.

It is a matter of time that UAE authorities will notify the lifting of ban on poultry exports from Pakistan, Mr Durrani said, adding: "The Consulate-General of Pakistan in Dubai is in contact with UAE authorities to complete the legal formalities for notifying the lifting of ban on export of poultry."

Pakistan Commercial Counselor at the Dubai Consulate Saeed Qadir told Khaleej Times that Pakistan was looking for the lifting the ban on export of all types of live birds and their meat products, hatching eggs and one-day-old chicks. He mentioned that it was decided principally during the 11th Joint Ministerial Commission meeting in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad last November.

Shaikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs, chaired the UAE side at the meeting while the Pakistani side was led by Sartaj Aziz, Adviser to the Pakistani Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs. The two sides held bilateral consultations and exchanged views on a variety of regional and international issues of mutual concern.

They agreed to strengthen ties between the two countries and push economic and trade relations forward by tapping into available potential and opportunities. The two sides also expressed satisfaction at the growing volume of trade exchange, noting the need for more efforts to be exerted to support bilateral economic relations.

Saudi Arabia, last month, already signalled to restore its import of poultry and poultry products from Pakistan after a technical-level delegation of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority expressed its satisfaction over the quality of poultry produced in Pakistan.