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KARACHI, Nov 19: City Nazim Naimatullah Khan, taking notice of the complaints about overcharging by meat sellers, has directed Enterprise and Investment Promotion (E&IP) department to take legal action against those violating the price list notified by the city government.
He said that the meat sellers had reopened their shops only after agreeing to comply with the price list. He warned that those found involved in profiteering would be taken to task.
“Magistrate be directed to move swiftly in conducting raids on receiving any complaint,” he said, and added that action would be taken also against those creating trouble at slaughter houses.
The Nazim asked people to pay only notified rates for meat and inform complaint centres on phone ‘134’ or contact directly the EDO, E&IP, if anyone demanded higher prices.
The city government has reminded general public that it had notified per kg meat prices at Rs70 for beef with bones (grade A), Rs60 for beat with bones (grade B), Rs90 for beef boneless, Rs80 for beef bachia (grade A), Rs75 for beef bachia (grade B), and Rs150, Rs140 and Rs120 for mutton grade A, B and C respectively.
SHORTAGE: A breakaway group of the Meat Merchants Welfare Association has claimed that its rival group was hindering a smooth supply of animals to nullify the city government’s efforts to enforce notified rates of meat in the city.
The group, led by Saleem Qureishi, accused those supporting Iqbal Qureishi, General Secretary of the Association, of harassing those brokers who would try to supply animals to meat sellers.
Saleem Qureishi told PPI that brokers in the Cattle Colony, Landhi, were being threatened with dire consequences while meat sellers were being asked not to buy animals.
Through such means, he said, an artificial shortage of animals was being created to ensure that meat could not be sold at the CDGK’s prescribed rates.
The EDO, Raeesuddin Paracha, has confirmed that such complaints were received at his end. He said the problem had been discussed during a meeting with the Saleem Qureishi group on Wednesday. —PPI
