ISLAMABAD, July 23: The Indian government has decided to issue an export licence for the export of live animals through land route to Pakistan.

According to an office memorandum issued by the Indian ministry of commerce and industry, a copy of which was made available to Dawn, the director general of Indian foreign trade would issue a licence for the export of live animals.

The memorandum issued on July 6, 2005, just one month after Pakistan’s notification issued on May 8, 2005, to allow the duty-free import of four types of vegetables — onions, potatoes, tomatoes and garlic — and halal meat of goat, sheep and beef from India through Wagha border.

The Pakistan government has also allowed import of live animals (bovine animals) — buffaloes, cows, sheep, goats and camels — through the same notification.

The three-paragraph brief memorandum reads: “As per the Exim policy, the export of live animals was restricted and was only permissible under the export licence.” It further says that Attari Road LCS (Wagha border) is already a notified route for import and export of goods from Pakistan under section 7 of the Customs Act notified through a notification No63/94-Cus(NT) issued on November 21, 1994 as amended.