KARACHI: Meat made available at fixed price amid strike
KARACHI, Nov 9: Dealing a severe blow to the ongoing strike enforced by the Meat Merchants Welfare Association, the city government managed to provide mutton of export quality at Rs150 per kg through the stalls set up at various places in the city as well as Bachat Bazaars on Sunday.
As per the CDGK’s plan and strategy, mutton in bulk quantity is being procured from two leading meat exporters — M/s PK Livestock and M/s Pakistan Food Products — at Rs135 per kg and being sold at the retail price of Rs150 at the stalls easily accessible to general consumers throughout the metropolis.
It was observed that the supplies on Sunday fell considerably short in almost all the localities. However, city government officials seemed confident that the situation would improve gradually and normalize within the next few days. They said that no more meatless days during the rest of Ramazan would be observed and, as such, the consumers would be able to buy meat, especially mutton, in an adequate quantity with the normalization of supplies.
The areas where meat was made available included Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Nazimabad, Federal B Area, North Nazimabad, Liaquatabad, PECHS, Saddar, Soldier Bazaar, Orangi, Baldia, Keamari, Landhi, Korangi, Malir and Shah Faisal Colony. According to the CDGK officials, the other areas would be covered from Monday.
City Nazim Naimatullah Khan visited many markets along with the concerned UC Nazims to inspect the supply and sale position. He noted that the supplies made on Sunday fell short amid great demand of meat.
While the city government, through union councils, has pledged to increase the supplies in the coming days so as to cater fully to the actual requirement, slaughtering of animals on community basis has also started. The UC Nazims accompanying Mr Khan pointed out that the permission given for the purpose would also help overcome the meat crisis created by the MMWA.
Mr Khan reiterated his determination to ensure provision of high quality meat to the people of Karachi at a very competitive rate.
WARNING: Speaking at a ration-distribution ceremony in Korangi late Saturday, City Nazim Naimatullah Khan sounded a warning that the city government would not allow the ‘mafia of meat sellers’ to hold the authorities hostage.
He also held out the assurance that a strict check would be maintained on the prices of various qualities of meat and nobody would be allowed to charge a rate higher than Rs150 per kg for mutton and Rs75 per kg for beef of standard quality.
Referring to the meat sellers rejection of the city government’s prescribed rates, the Nazim said in unequivocal terms that the CDGK would not bow to the mafia’s pressure. He said that the city government had already ensured a bulk input of meat at competitive price and ensured its supply to the consumers at the prescribed rate.
MMWA: A delegation of Karachi Meat Merchants’ Association, led by its president Haji Ishaque Qureshi and General secretary Iqbal Qureishi, called on Mr Anwar Alam, In-charge of the MQM’s Ad-hoc Committee, at Khursheed Memorial Hall, Azizabad, on Sunday.
Members of the Committee Zahid Qureshi, Haider Abbas Rizvi and Younus Mansoori were also present at the meeting which lasted two hours, according to an MQM press release.
It stated that the delegation apprised the committee of the problems being faced by the meat sellers. It was stressed during the meeting that the meat prices issue be resolved amicably.
The release said that a large number of people belonging to Qureshi community was accompanying the delegation. They were holding placards in their hands and chanting slogans in support of their demands.— APP/PPI
KARACHI, Nov 9: Dealing a severe blow to the ongoing strike enforced by the Meat Merchants Welfare Association, the city government managed to provide mutton of export quality at Rs150 per kg through the stalls set up at various places in the city as well as Bachat Bazaars on Sunday.
