Animal smuggling fast depleting prized Pak race camels stock

Islamabad, Feb 22(ANI): Pakistan is facing an acute dearth of camels, as their numbers have seen a gradual decline from over one million in 1990 to 700,000 today.

One of the potent reasons behind this shortage is believed to be the regular use of Pakistan-origin camels in the Gulf for their camel-races.

According to livestock experts, the Pakistan-origin camels need special scrutiny from the concerned authorities, including constant checks on animal smuggling and use of the country's camels in the Gulf for racing.

"Currently there are 700,000 million camels in the country, while the number was over around one million in 1990," The Nation quoted Dr. Khursheed Ahmed, Deputy Animal Husbandry Commissioner of the Ministry of Livestock and Dairy Development, as saying.

Dr. Ahmed further said that locals are not aware of the importance of the Pakistan-origin camels, and sell them at cheap prices due to poverty.

"Like Pakistani Super Karnal Basmati is famous in the world for its fine quality, our Pakistani camels are also the finest with different point of view," he said. (ANI)