PESHAWAR: The district administration Peshawar has arrested a group allegedly involved in collecting dead chickens and supplying their meat to restaurants, shawarma outlets, burger shops and other food businesses in the city.
According to a statement issued by the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner Peshawar Captain (retired) Sanaullah Khan got information from a confidential source that a group residing near Bacha Khan Chowk had been gathering dead chickens from different poultry farms and shops, processing them and then selling their meat to different food business houses, which posed serious threats to the health of the citizens.
Upon receiving the information, the Additional Assistant Commissioner (Faqirabad), accompanied by different officials, raided the warehouse following orders from the deputy commissioner. In the process of the operation, more than 2,000 dead chickens were seized, while the main suspect of the group was arrested.
It has been established through initial investigations that the suspects gathered dead chickens from different poultry farms and shops, cleaned them and then distributed their meat to restaurants, shawarma points, burger joints and other food business houses.
The district administration seized the recovered chickens and initiated procedures for their disposal. A case has also been registered against the suspects under relevant laws, while further investigations are underway.
Deputy Commissioner, Sanaullah Khan called the move an important step for the sake of safeguarding public health, saying that no leniency will be shown to the elements indulging in such activities that pose a danger to people’s lives.
In this connection, the deputy commissioner has asked administrative officials to keep watch on the activities of the poultry shops, cold storages, warehouses and chicken markets in their jurisdictional areas. He further instructed the officers to take strict legal action wherever dead chicken meat is found being sold or stored.
According to him, stern action will be taken against the owners of the poultry shops or warehouses who indulge themselves in supplying dead chicken meat.
