ISLAMABAD: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared Pakistan free from bird flu, an official at the Ministry of Health said yesterday.

“This pleasant development has elevated the profile of Pakistan from the viewpoint of health in the international community,” he official said.

He pointed out that the WHO declaration was a much-needed relief to the sick poultry industry in Pakistan. As the first very encouraging move, Saudi Arabia had lifted a ban on import of poultry products from Pakistan, he said. From now on, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry would be importing fresh, frozen and chilled poultry meat, eggs and their products, he said.

The government had issued directives to the departments concerned to ensure strict compliance with the health conditions, technical regulations and approved standards of Saudi Arabia and other countries in the future, he said. He said during the last 10 months, not even a single case of bird flu had been reported, which, of course, was a very encouraging sign at a time when the poultry industry was facing a crisis.