CDA yet to start construction work of slaughterhouse

PC-1 of the slaughterhouse to be approved
on March 18, says CDA Member Planning

Islamabad

Even after strict directions by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to start construction work of city’s first slaughterhouse, Capital Development Authority (CDA) is still reluctant to launch this project. The project was one of the CDA’s priorities and several times, CDA officials had promised to set up a state-of-the-art slaughterhouse from where healthy meat could be provided to public, but even after the lapse of seven years, residents of twin cities are still waiting for the start of the construction work.

It is worth mentioning here that residents of federal capital as well as its adjoining areas face foul smell as butchers are slaughtering their animals in their own private slaughterhouses (homes or in plots) for years.

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) Member Planning Asad Kiyani told ‘The News’ that they have called a meeting on March 18 to approve PC-1 of the project. After approval of PC-1, we will start construction work of slaughterhouse in Islamabad, he claimed. “We have provided 8-acre plot for the construction of slaughterhouse in Sector I-11/4,” he added. He said that a beautiful state-of-the-art slaughterhouse would be built from where healthy meat would be provided to the residents of federal capital

He said that they have completed final design of the project as well and start its construction work after approval of PC-1.  Unfortunately, it’s (slaughterhouse) cost was only Rs18-crores when the than government approved its PC-1 in 2010. But, now its cost has crossed to Rs50-crores.

President of the All Pakistan Jamiatul Quresh Meat Welfare Association Khurshid Qureshi said they have been waiting for years for establishment of the slaughterhouse for many decades now. CDA has allotted plots for this purpose many times but every time the project was cancelled. Government had provided us a plot of 20-acres near Sector H-9, which has now been converted into depot of Metro Buses. On the directions of Islamabad High Court (IHC), CDA has provided us plot of only 8-acres in Sector I-11/4. But, CDA never even touched this land to start construction work. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif took notice and directed CDA to start construction work of slaughterhouse immediately but in vain, he denounced. “Keeping in view CDA’s track record, we have doubts if the authority will make good on its promises,” he said, adding that though the plot in I-11 was approved in September, 2016 there were still no signs that construction will be started sometime soon.

Last year, the civic body changed sites for the slaughterhouse at least three times. Originally, CDA had allotted a plot of 20 acres in Sector H-9, but a big portion of that plot was used up for the metro bus project.

Islamabad High Court had also directed CDA to complete the slaughterhouse to ensure provision of fresh and healthy meat to the residents of the city. The petition has contended that the capital lacked a slaughterhouse as a result of which the quality of meat had suffered and citizens were consuming meat that was not properly checked.

A survey conducted by ‘The News’ that there are more than 2000 meat shops here in federal capital, Islamabad but all butchers slaughtering their animals by own. The areas where butchers slaughtering their animals emanating bad smell all around also creasing bad environment and diseases among public.