Rodent infestation irks lawmakers in Parliament Lodges

Rats hide inside false ceilings, says Senate deputy chairman

ISLAMABAD: Lawmakers have been irked by the presence of a rodent infestation in the Parliament Lodges and the facility's caretakers have failed in eliminating the nuisance.

Despite attempts to control and eventually eliminate the infestation, not much headway has been made.

The fourth floor of the lodges is heavily infested and Senate Deputy Chairman Saleem Mandviwala said lawmakers have refused to live on the floor.

"Rats hide inside false ceilings," said the deputy chairman and suggested that the ceiling should be removed.



The rat infestation issue came to the fore in March during a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Food Security and Research when MNA Dr Fauzia Hameed said that there are rats in her room.

The Ministry for Food Security and Research had assured of devising a plan to get rid of the rats in the next fiscal year.



Pakistan Agriculture Research Council Chairman Dr Yousuf Zafar disclosed the presence of over 50,000 rats in the Parliament during the meeting. He said that a survey has been conducted regarding the matter and that the rats mostly frequent the lodges and cafeteria.

Committee Chairman Shakir Bashir Awan had noted that rodenticides were effective for some days, but the rodents re-emerged all over again. Dr Zafar contended that rats would continue as long as their food source was there.

Food Security and Research Minister Sikandar Hayat Bosan had shared on the occasion that plans to eradicate rats in the Parliament will be devised for the next financial year.