KARACHI, Dec 8: City Nazim Niamatullah Khan on Wednesday asked the officials of the city government's agricultural department to take stern action against illegal slaughter-houses and ensure that the Sindh government's notification pertaining to new meatless days is implemented in letter and in spirit.

Taking notice of complaints that a number of illegal slaughterhouses have sprung up in various parts of the city, he asked the officials to form special teams for raiding illegal slaughterhouses, seize all the meat found at such slaughterhouses and those involved in such illegal activities be imposed heavy fines.

He was presiding over a meeting which was attended, among others, by DCO Karachi Fazal-ur-Rehman and other senior officials of the CDGK. The meeting also directed the meat sellers to strictly observe Wednesdays and Thursdays as meatless days.

It also decided that there would be a complete ban on selling meat dishes in hotels and barbecue houses on Wednesdays and Thursdays; and in case of violation, such hotels and barbeque shops would be sealed and their owners would be punished according to the law.

The Nazim asked the executive district officer (agriculture) to form special teams to conduct raids at meat shops, illegal slaughter houses and hotels, ensuring that the new meatless days are observed strictly.