WHILE people are already facing obstacles in living a healthy and prosperous life, the issue of many edible items coming with poisonous or harmful stuff mixed in it comes to mind.

There are a number of irresponsible butchers in Pakistan, and especially in rural areas, who sell meat of dead goats and cows to make a fast buck. When a goat or a cow dies, the butchers sell it instead of throwing away the body which attracts a host of fatal diseases.

Sadly, the authorities concerned seem to be paying no attention to this issue. Some butchers hire unemployed people to look for dead animals. These people, in turn, sell them to butchers on subsidized rates.

In other countries representatives of the health department pay regular visits to all meat cutting and distribution facilities, ensuring the best possible system. But in Pakistan there is no system in place.

Therefore, it is my request to the authorities concerned to incorporate a strict supervision system here to prevent the sale of unhealthy and infected meat.

MEHREEN FAROOQ Karachi