PFA catches 2.4 tonnes of spoilt meat

Officials say meat is brought to Pindi from different areas of Punjab

RAWALPINDI: Officials of the district livestock department on Wednesday destroyed about 2.4 tonnes of unhygienic meat after it was seized by the Punjab Food Authority from a store in Bhabra Bazaar.

Punjab Food Authority (PFA) Deputy Director Fariha Anwar and her staff raided the store after getting a tip-off. Deeming the meat to be unhygienic and unfit for human consumption, Anwar told the district livestock department to take appropriate legal action against the culprits.

Subsequently, livestock and Sihala slaughterhouse officials burnt the meat and registered a case against butchers Nadeem, Shabbir, Sufi Younis, and Jansher.

Reports suggest that butchers allegedly bring unhygienic meat to Rawalpindi from other cities in connivance with some district livestock department officials.

Sihala slaughterhouse Manager Dr Farrukh Ahmed told The Express Tribune that people selling unhygienic meat routinely accused officials of connivance when they were arrested.

On recent seizures of unhygienic meat, Dr Farrukh said that butchers from Rawalpindi usually buy sick animals from other districts of Punjab such as Sargodha, Sahiwal and Gojra.

The veterinarian noted that butchers would then force water into the infected meat to make it look healthier. The butchers try to keep this meat frozen, but often struggle to maintain the required temperatures. This causes the meat to rot before it can reach stores.

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