ISLAMABAD: The Agro Trade Promotion Committee of the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) has expressed concern over the Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) plan to construct a slaughterhouse in Sector I-11/4 of Islamabad, covering over five acres of land.
The committee argued that the presence of the slaughterhouse near the Sabzi Mandi (vegetable market) would create unhygienic conditions, negatively impacting the health of consumers of fruits and vegetables.
ICCI Acting President Faad Waheed stressed that the construction of the slaughterhouse would be against the interests of the fruit and vegetable businesses and create a bad smell in the area, negatively affecting the environment.
Moreover, the Vice President ICCI, Engineer Muhammad Azhar ul Islam Zafar, pointed out that the UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s (UNFAO) Standard Operating Procedures state that slaughterhouses should be located away from residential areas and urged CDA to follow this international practice.
Convener of the Agro Trade Promotion Committee, Tahir Ayub, also highlighted that the sector was already facing a water shortage and that an ample supply of potable water and adequate facilities for treatment and disposal were required for a slaughterhouse, which was not feasible in the area.
He called on the CDA to withdraw the project to protect the Sabzi Mandi businesses from its harmful consequences.
