Islamabad, Sep 17 (IANS): Pakistan has begin culling over 21,000 imported Australian sheep after tests showed they were diseased, a media report said Monday.

Sindh government officials decided Sunday to cull more than 21,000 imported Australian sheep and the process of killing the animals and burying them started late at night, reported Dawn from Karachi.

The government took the decision after reports from a second laboratory confirmed that the animals were diseased.

"We have culled about 150 sheep so far. The step has been taken after the animals were found suffering from highly contagious diseases. Infections could spread in our environment if the animals were allowed to live," Abdul Hafeez Shaikh from the livestock department said.

The sheep were being buried in a 15-foot-deep ditch after being slaughtered.

Syed Abid Ali Shah, a senior official, said the sheep had got foot-and-mouth disease, besides having bacterial infection.

"There is no option left but to cull all animals in public interest because two laboratory reports have confirmed that they are diseased," he said.

The sheep were recently offloaded here. Parts of the same consignment were also delivered to Qatar and Oman.

The authorities in Bahrain rejected the shipment on account of the animals' sickness.

Dawn cited media reports that said the consignment was brought to Karachi instead of being taken back to Australia.

It was bought here by a meat company and the sheep were being kept at its farms in Razzakabad area with other animals meant for slaughter.