ISLAMABAD: Despite passage of over five decades since the establishment of the federal capital, the civic agency has not been able to set up a slaughterhouse in the city.

For the last about a decade, the issue of slaughterhouse has been discussed but practical work is yet to be started on the project.

Last year, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) allocated funds for the construction of the slaughterhouse in I-11/4.

But the federal government later decided that the project would be executed under the public-private partnership (PPP) mode. After the bidding process, Nespak was hired as a consultant, which is preparing a business model for it.

Meat sellers urge govt to start work on project at the earliest

“Today, we met the consultant who has almost completed his work and we are hopefully that the government will soon call tenders for the construction work,” All-Pakistan Jamiatul Quresh Meat Welfare Association President Khurshid Qureshi told Dawn.

He said the federal government wanted the project to be executed under the public-private partnership mode.

“This project should have been completed through the CDA funding as it had already earmarked funds for it. After completion, the slaughterhouse could be outsourced,” he said, adding in case the government opted for the PPP mode, prices of animals should not be more than that in other abattoirs of the country.

“The project has been facing a delay of years. We request the government to start it as soon as possible,” he added.

On the other hand, in the absence of a slaughterhouse, butchers have been slaughtering animals in their houses or in open spaces without any certification.

Around a decade ago, the CDA had decided to build a state-of-the-art slaughterhouse but could not make any headway on it except changing the proposed location thrice.

Finally, a five-acre plot was allotted in I-11/4 where the proposed slaughterhouse will be set up.

After formation of the local government in 2015-16, the project was given to the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI). But the MCI could not make any progress due to lack of funds and rules and regulations.

Last year, the project was given back to the CDA which got it approved from the Development Working Party. However, the government later decided to execute the project through the public-private partnership.

In November, Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umer convened a meeting to review the progress on the project.

The meeting was informed that the total area of the slaughterhouse was 8,000 square feet and the indoor area would process initially more than 15,000 animals per week.

The CDA appointed Nespak for the feasibility study and design estimation at a cost of Rs7 million. The abattoir will have the capacity of slaughtering 2,000 goats and 800 cows per day.

The slaughterhouse’s major components include a freezing room, cold storage, deboning area, packing room, dispatch area, area for keeping animals, checking and inspection portion, chilling rooms, administrative rooms, parking, tubewell and waste treatment areas.

The meeting was informed that facilities like grazing areas, provision of water and other allied facilities for the animals would also be ensured.

It was decided that the CDA would provide land for commercial activities to maximise revenue.

The minister had said in order to provide fresh, quality and hygienic meat to the residents the slaughterhouse should be equipped with latest machinery and equipment.

Published in Dawn, February 19th, 2022