Mayor Karachi Barrister Murtaza Wahab has said that a special task force to inspect the quality of meat provided to citizens through slaughterhouses has been formed.
According to a KMC statement issued today, the purpose is to assure citizens that the meat they consume comes from healthy and halal animals. To achieve this, the Veterinary Department teams of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) will conduct inspections at food outlets, collect meat samples, and from November 1, licenses will be issued to meat, beef, and chicken shops.
Under a public-private partnership, the New Karachi slaughterhouse will be rebuilt in a modern style with all necessary facilities. He made this statement on Saturday while chairing a meeting with KMC’s Veterinary Department officials. Municipal Commissioner KMC S.M. Afzal Zaidi, Senior Director of Veterinary Iftikhar Ahmed, and other relevant officials were also present.
Wahab instructed that all animals to be slaughtered at the Landhi and New Karachi slaughterhouses should undergo a complete inspection to ensure the meat provided to citizens adheres to health standards. Veterinarians are directed to prevent the slaughter of sick and weak animals, while shops selling meat must maintain cleanliness, install mesh screens to keep flies out, and ensure the supply of healthy meat. Any shops violating these rules will be sealed.
The mayor stated that it is the primary responsibility of local bodies to provide citizens with health-compliant and halal meat. Therefore, no compromise will be made in this regard, and KMC officials must perform their duties diligently. He further added that KMC slaughterhouses are being improved under a public-private partnership, with multiple proposals under consideration and discussions ongoing with various organizations, which are expected to yield positive outcomes.
He also instructed the Veterinary Department to stop illegal animal slaughter and sale of such meat across the city and take action against those responsible. To protect citizens from diseases, it is essential to curb the sale of substandard meat, and all necessary steps will be implemented. The mayor directed the Veterinary Department’s special teams to take action across all areas of the city without discrimination, and the entire process will be closely monitored.