The ongoing crackdown on the butcher mafia in Lahore has proved that a huge quantity of meat seized and discarded so far belonged to either dead or sick animals. It has also proved that over 75pc of the total unhygienic meat seized -- 77,000kg in the last three months -- was brought to Lahore from other cities, especially Chishtian (Bahawalnagar), Okara, Kasur, Pattoki, Nankana Sahib and Sheikhupura.

It means that a certain quantity of dead or sick animals’ meat, which remained unchecked by the departments concerned, has already been consumed. And no one knows until when the crackdown and sale of unhygienic meat will continue.

However, the officials concerned claim that the supply and sale of unhygienic meat had reduced to a great extent since the government announced a crackdown on them.

“Though there are many people involved in unlawful slaughtering of dead or sick animals at illegal slaughterhouses in Lahore, but we have learnt that a big portion of the total seized meat was brought from Bahawalnagar, Okara, Sheikhupura, Kasur and Nankana districts,” says City District Government of Lahore Deputy District Officer (Livestock) Dr Rahat Ali.

He says previously butchers transported meat in rented vehicles. But, after the department found out, they started using passenger buses and vans. He mentioned that officials caught a huge quantity of unhygienic meat that was packed in vegetable bags and kept in a bus that arrived from Chishtian, Bahawalnagar.

When asked about consumption of such meat, Ali said it was possible despite the fact the department was trying hard to stop this heinous business by all means. He said there are some cases in which it proved that the meat seized by field teams was a donkey’s.

“In one case, we raided at a location and foiled a bid to sell dog meat in Lahore,” he added.

The officer said during last three months, the teams seized about 77,000kg of meat, got 540 first information reports registered and arrested about 650 people for transporting, supply and selling unhygienic meat besides operating illegal slaughterhouses. He was also asked about the tag tied to the meat guaranteeing it is fresh and hygienic, chances of its removal and affixing to unhygienic meat and subsequently selling it, he said it was not easy.

“It is very difficult because if a butcher does it, he will have to cut a certain portion of the meat first. We are checking this minutely and customers should too and identify meat with its colour and freshness, or inform the department at the helpline 0800-09211 immediately,” he explained.

Talking about the revised strategy, Dr Ali said the district coordination officers and livestock heads in the aforementioned districts had been taken into confidence on the issue. They were recently asked in a meeting to monitor and stop transportation of such meat to Lahore. Passenger buses and goods transporters were also requested to check passengers carrying meat and inform officials concerned.

To a question, he said police would have to help the department in eliminating this business.

“Even though they are helping us, they need to more,” he added.

He said a special team was also constituted recently to monitor the department’s field teams raiding slaughterhouses and capturing butchers.

“This was done after we learnt that the some lower level officials are involved in informing butchers before raids,” Dr Ali said. He urged people to use the official helpline more.

Lahore Labour Department’s workmen compensation authority has devised a plan to decide all cases within six months. Under the plan, the authority will be responsible for not only deciding a case but also pursue its early implementation in collaboration with the departments concerned.

“Cases filed by labourers for compensation, gratuity, bonuses are always delayed on the part of the parties’ lawyers because they are used to seeking adjournments like civil courts,” says Director (Labour) Syed Hasnat Javaid.

Talking to Dawn, he said under the plan, counsels of the parties had also been requested to help the department in speedy disposal of compensation cases keeping in view the rising problems of workers. He said the authority has been given a free hand to dispose of cases within six months. He also welcomed workers’ suggestions to improve the system.–khalidpak284@yahoo.com

Published in Dawn, March 18th, 2015

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