Mafia changes tactics to continue dead animals meat sale

LAHORE
THE supply of dead animals meat especially mutton and beef continued in the provincial capital as the mafia keeps changing its means of transport to continue the heinous business unchecked.
Sources revealed that majority of dead animals’ meat is transported to the city through various means of transport and now-a-days, the mafia is using passenger buses and wagons to ensure deliveries. They used to hide the meat of dead animals on rooftops of passenger buses or under the seats of mini wagons.
On an average, Lahorites consume over 8,000 goats/lambs and around 800 cows on daily basis whereas the demand of mutton and beef is on higher side on Thursday and Sunday. Sources said the demand of mutton and beef is far higher than the above-mentioned supply and this is why meat supply from other cities was made to fill the gap.
Sources said majority of meat was being supplied from nearby cities such as Sheikhupura, Farooqabad, Kasur, Okara, Khanewal, Burewala and Vehari. They said supplies of dead animal meat from Chishtian, Multan, DG Khan, Bhakkar and other cities of South Punjab were also intercepted in near past.
Sources maintained that meat of dead animal, which is brought to city through passenger buses and wagons, was supplied immediately. However, sources said big havelies and cold stores in the outskirts of the city were also used to mix meat of dead animals and it was supplied to city hotels, marriage halls, catering companies, restaurants and meat shops directly.
Meat of dead animal is very harmful if consumed, said Director General Environment Protection Agency (EPA) Farooq Hameed while talking to The News. He said this meat carried a huge number of harmful bacteria and virus and is also prohibited in our religion.
“This is a new form of organised crime,” he said, adding that the government was making the all-out effort to nab those involved in this crime.
A conference of District Officers of Environment was called on Monday in which DG EPA directed them to take these criminals head on with zero tolerance policy. The DG EPA warned the DOs that if dead meat was confiscated in Lahore and during investigation it was revealed that the meat was transported from another district strict action would be taken against the DO (Environment) of that district.
DG EPA also directed the DOs to keep a vigilant eye on illegal slaughterhouse in their respective areas. He directed them to formulate SOPs to control this crime in their respective districts. District Officer (Environment) Lahore was also directed to take action against this activity and check all passenger buses, wagons and other means of transport being used by the mafia to supply meat of dead animals to the provincial capital.
District Officer (Livestock) Yousaf Zahid told The News that the department was carrying out raids on daily basis to curb this crime. He said Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had already passed strict instructions over this issue. He said he along with his team was also checking cold stores and other premises in the outskirts of Lahore where meat of dead animals could be stored, sorted out and mixed with regular meat.
He admitted that a large number of illegal slaughterhouses were also being operated in and around Lahore.
Official rate of mutton in the city is Rs500 per kilogram and Rs260/kilogram of beef but ironically this rate was not enforced anywhere in the city. DO Livestock when asked about the enforcement of meat prices, said this was the job of price control magistrates.