ISLAMABAD: President of the All Pakistan Jamiat-ul-Quresh Meat Welfare Association and a member of the Livestock and Dairy Development Board, Khurshid Ahmed Qureshi has called for the establishment of a modern, standardized slaughterhouse in Islamabad.
Speaking at a meeting with Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) President Muhammad Zakaria Akbar Zia, Qureshi said the absence of a slaughterhouse in the capital was making it difficult to ensure a reliable supply of hygienic meat that meets food-safety standards, said a release issued here on Friday.
He added that transporting livestock and meat to facilities outside the city increased operating costs, placing an additional burden on consumers. A modern slaughterhouse in Islamabad, he said, would improve access to clean meat and help boost Pakistan’s meat exports.
Qureshi also appealed to Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Naqvi to direct the relevant authorities to take steps toward establishing the facility.
Akbar Zia said the project had been a longstanding demand of residents and the business community. He assured the delegation that ICCI would raise the issue at relevant forums and support efforts to secure the construction of a modern, standardized slaughterhouse.
United Business Group Secretary General Zafar Bakhtawari attended the meeting, along with representatives of the Meat Association.
The delegation included Sardar Zaheer Ahmed, Abdullah Qureshi, Abdul Aziz Qureshi, Asif Rajput, Abdul Rehman Khan and Subhan Qureshi.
Participants called for stronger coordination among government departments and practical action on the proposal, saying the facility could improve meat hygiene and food safety while supporting the growth of Pakistan’s meat-export sector.
