Punjab ends livestock tax, ending Kashmir mutton crisis

The Punjab Government has withdrawn the levy it had imposed on vehicles transporting livestock through the state, ending the mutton supply crisis in Kashmir.

Khazir Mohammad Regoo, president of the All Kashmir Wholesale and Retail Mutton Dealers Association, announced on Friday that the dispute over the alleged illegal levy on Kashmiri meat traders has been fully resolved.

Kashmir had been facing an acute shortage of mutton ever since the Punjab Government imposed a 4 per cent tax on vehicles carrying livestock through the state.

“The matter has been resolved after the Punjab authorities revoked the levy,” Regoo said. He said the association had formed a coordination committee that camped in Punjab and took up the issue with the Government there.” Members of the coordination committee were in Punjab for the last 10 days. They met several people in the Punjab government. Thank God, the Government there understood that it was an illegal tax and revoked it,” he said, expressing gratitude to political leaders, people, and media for their support.

Kashmiri traders had raised the issue with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah as well as other political leaders in the Valley. Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Spokesman, Imran Nabi Dar, in a post on X, also confirmed, “Deadlock ended! Kudos to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for his swift intervention in resolving the Mutton crisis with Punjab.

“Finally, relief for the people during the wedding season. Omar Abdullah’s efforts ensured the resumption of livestock supply to Kashmir, bringing much-needed relief”.