Caged animals’ woes: MPs express concern over Marghazar Zoo condition

Also discuss plot allotment to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in I-12

ISLAMABAD: Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat has expressed serious apprehensions over the neglected condition of Marghazar Zoo and carelessness on the part of the zoo administration due to which animals were losing their lives.

The committee, chaired by Senator Talha Mehmood, met on Tuesday at the Parliament House.

It deliberated over miserable condition of animals in the zoo particularly focusing on Kaavan, the lone elephant at the premises, and laxity of management in taking his care.

The panel directed the zoo administration, now under the control of the Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation (IMC), to take serious action against those responsible for the negligence.

The committee also heard views of the general public and journalists who had made complaints that there was ban on entry of public and media persons in the only zoo of the city, who visited to take information about Kaavan’s condition.

It expressed serious annoyance over prohibition of journalists’ entry into the zoo and directed its administration that it was a recreational place for public and restriction on entry was illegal and against the law.

The committee also discussed the issue of plot allotment to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) by the CDA in I-12 and summoned relevant officials of the civic agency, the hospital and Prime Minister’s Secretariat.

The panel also took notice of non-payment of salaries to the Pims Cardiac Centre staff and deplored the relevant authorities for not providing extension to technical staff of the centre.

It was directed to make arrangements for immediate payment of salaries and to make the centre fully functional.

Serious notice of the civic issues of the I-sectors, including water shortage, dilapidated roads and poor sanitation condition was also taken.

Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University Vice-Chancellor Dr Javed Akram gave a detailed presentation regarding issues facing the Pims.

Later, the committee chairperson, while talking to media persons said that serious environmental threats had emerged due to pollution created by a private hotel constructed at the Margalla Hills.

He said that untreated sewerage water from the hotel was being drained out through Saidpur stream, which was polluting natural streams and wells downhill and had become a source of spreading diseases in the area.

The chairperson said that the committee would not remain silent on that criminal act and negligence, and relevant officials would be summoned so that actual situation could be ascertained and a proper solution of the problem could be devised.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 1^st, 2016.