The confiscation of nearly 2,000 kilogrammes of unhygienic meat from an illegal slaughterhouse situated near the motorway toll plaza in Islamabad has raised concerns about the safety of public health, which is constantly at risk at the hands dishonest people. In a separate incident, the Islamabad administration seized a vehicle carrying a huge quantity of dead animal meat that was on its way from Jhang to Islamabad. Reportedly, dead animals brought from various cities are slaughtered and then sold at various shops in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. It is a terrible practice and citizens are the ultimate sufferers of this criminal activity going on unabated all over the country. Reportedly, dead animals or those of no more use and discarded by farmers in rural areas are purchased at very low cost by criminal butchers who then bring them to their illegal slaughterhouses and market this unhealthy meat. News appears regularly about the detection of cases related to the illegal trade of dead animals.
The most disturbing fact is that no serious efforts are being made to stop this illegal business. Butchers get clearance for supplying this unwholesome meat to markets by greasing the palms of concerned officials and veterinary doctors. The networks of this illegal business mainly consist of suppliers (butchers), dishonest personnel from the concerned authorities and buyers. It is the responsibility of all the concerned authorities like the livestock department, food authority, city district government and the police to clamp down on these networks. Instead, there is no coordination among these departments. That is why such business is flourishing. More tragically, the dead meat is sold to restaurants, food stalls and hotels, so the managements of these food outlets are equally involved in this crime. The meat of dead animals poses serious health hazards to citizens by spreading various diseases. The government needs to wake up and take solid steps to stop this illegal business. There is a need to issue licences to butchers after their registration. Strict action should be taken against illegal slaughterhouses. The police and other relevant authorities need to check the transportation of animals dead or alive, which are mostly brought from rural areas to big cities. Furthermore, the government needs to introduce an effective monitoring system to check the quality of raw food available in the market. Proper rules and regulations and their implementation are necessary to save people from catching deadly diseases due to the consumption of unhygienic food. *