KARACHI: Striking meat merchants to lose shops, warns Nazim
KARACHI, Nov 10: Heartened by the satisfactory progress in normalizing sales and supplies of meat in the metropolis, City Nazim Naimatullah Khan on Monday exhorted the striking meat merchants to call off the strike in their own interest.
Speaking at a press conference, in presence of the representatives of various export firms took along by the Nazim to ensure a smooth supply of meat as per the city government’s prescribed rates, Mr Khan warned that allotment of the formerly KMC shops belonging to any striking meat merchant would be cancelled and re-allotted to other interested party in case of continued defiance on the part of the existing shop-owner.
The Karachi- and Lahore-based traders present at the press conference represented PK Livestock, Zeenat Exports, Kidco International and GM Trading.
Justifying the proposed action, the City Nazim recalled that ever since the advent of the holy month of Ramazan, the city government was constantly trying to persuade the meat sellers and their association to offer reasonable prices of meat varieties so that the same could be brought down to an affordable proportion. The CDGK’s move to fix the meat prices was in line with safeguarding the interests of both the meat merchants and the consumers. However, he said, the association was bent upon imposing an exorbitantly high prices and, as such, it turned down all the appeals in this regard. So much so, he said, it resorted to instigate the meat sellers to shut down their shops and even to take to the streets.
Naimatullah Khan told newsmen that the city government invoked Section 144 to impose a ban on transportation of live animals which, according to the association, was a major factor contributing to the steep rise in the prices of meat. However, they appeared not satisfied by the move. Mr Khan rejected the meat merchants claim as ‘baseless’ that export of animals was also one of the major factors creating a dearth. He said that around 100,000 animals were being exported per year as against 300,000 being slaughtered per day in the country.
He wondered that while the same people were providing mutton at Rs92 per kg and beef at Rs88 per kg to government departments, they were refusing to sell the meat to public at much higher rates.
“We are determined to settle the meat price issue once and for all with the cooperation of exporters,” he declared.
Mr Khan observed that one of the real problems in the meat getting costlier was the involvement of middlemen. While this problem had been overcome in Lahore, it persists in Karachi, he added and revealed that the city government would take appropriate action in this regard after consultation with concerned quarters.
Highlighting the recent development where Karachi and Lahore were declared twin-cities, the City Nazim said that many problems could be solved if both the cities adopted a common approach and offered help and cooperation to each other.
Mr Arif Ghayas of Zeenat Exports told newsmen that the country had no shortage of animals. Rather, he added, there was a surplus stock to meet the meat requirement. He was confident that Karachiites would be able to get an uninterrupted supply of quality meat despite the ongoing strike.
Representatives of other export firms said that they were prepared to establish retail outlets in the city particularly in Baldia, Shershah, Agra Taj and Saeedabad.
IMPROVEMENT: A marked improvement in the supply and sale situation with regard to meat availability was noticed on Monday, the second day of the operation being carried out under the supervision of town and union council Nazims in the metropolis.
With an increased supply from exporters to the local government officials, consumers of most of the areas did not complain of a shortage of mutton sold at Rs150 per kg.
More areas were covered on Monday to ensure availability of meat following Sunday’s experience when many localities remained without meat due to a short supply.
Though not fully under control, the meat crisis would be overcome in the next few days, officials were quoted as saying while observing an improvement in the supply and sale situation.
The town and UC Nazims visited temporary meat outlets in their respective areas to monitor the operation,
In many localities, slaughtering of animals on community basis continued for the second consecutive day in the presence of the Nazims. In Liaquatabad, sale of meat continued up to Sehri time due to heavy rush.
The areas where a shortage was noticed on Sunday were supplied with an adequate quantity of meat on Monday. These areas included Landhi, Korangi, Bin Qasim, Malir, Shah Faisal, Mehmoodabad, Akhtar Colony, Manzoor Colony, Sheerin Jinnah Colony, Keamari, Mauripur, Baldia, Site, Metroville, Orangi and New Karachi, besides kutchi abadis and villages in the suburbs.
PACKING: Unlike local meat sellers, the export firms have been providing meat at retail outlets in hygienically-packed parcels. Wrapped in net, the meat is packed to ensure protection from dust, as well as flies and other insects, right from its release till reaching the buyer.—PPI/APP
