Islamabad Report:
In a shocking revelation, Islamabad Food Authority (IFA) has confirmed that donkey meat was not only being processed within the city limits but was also reportedly being supplied to areas outside the capital. The confirmation follows the recent bust of a large, illegal slaughterhouse operating secretly in the Sangjani area of Islamabad, where multiple tons of donkey meat and live animals were discovered.

According to Irfan Memon, Director of the Islamabad Food Authority, intelligence regarding the illegal activity had been received about a week prior to the raid. “We had credible information, and our teams worked covertly for nearly a week to catch the perpetrators red-handed,” said Memon during a media briefing.

The operation, conducted jointly by Islamabad Police and the Food Authority, resulted in the discovery of approximately 1,000 kilograms of already processed donkey meat and 40 live donkeys. The slaughterhouse was equipped with facilities such as a cold storage unit used to preserve the meat before distribution.

At the scene, officials apprehended two suspects—a foreign national who served as the main butcher and a local watchman. The identity and nationality of the arrested butcher are being withheld as further investigations continue. However, the Food Authority has indicated that the suspects are part of a larger international network possibly involved in exporting donkey meat and hides.

“We are currently investigating how many donkeys were slaughtered and the final destinations of the meat,” said Irfan Memon. “Preliminary reports indicate that the operation was not limited to Islamabad, and there are credible leads suggesting distribution beyond the city’s boundaries.”

The discovery has sparked widespread public concern over food safety and regulatory oversight. Initial findings suggest that the donkey meat was intended for both local consumption and international export. According to police sources, the slaughterhouse was established with the help of foreign nationals in collaboration with a local resident. It had been operating in secrecy, avoiding detection for an extended period.

More alarmingly, the facility had been outfitted with professional-grade meat processing equipment, including refrigeration units to preserve large quantities of meat. The foreign butcher, reportedly flown in specifically for this purpose, was skilled in the slaughter and preparation of donkey meat—raising suspicions about the sophistication and long-term planning behind the operation.

Law enforcement officials have not yet disclosed which markets or restaurants may have received the meat, nor whether consumers were informed about the true source of the product. However, Director Memon noted that detailed tracing of the supply chain is ongoing, and arrests of additional suspects are expected soon.

“Our priority is public safety,” he said. “We are testing the seized meat samples, and if it is found that the meat had entered the commercial market, we will take immediate action against all involved, including potential buyers and distributors.”

The Food Authority is also working in coordination with health departments to assess any possible health risks associated with the consumption of donkey meat. Though some countries do consume donkey meat as part of their cuisine, it is not approved for human consumption in Pakistan, and its sale is considered illegal and punishable by law.

This raid has reignited calls for stronger food inspection protocols and tighter regulation of unregistered slaughterhouses across the country. Experts are urging the government to implement stricter monitoring of meat supply chains and increase the frequency of surprise inspections to prevent similar cases in the future.

Civil society groups and health activists have expressed outrage and demanded transparency. “Consumers have the right to know what they are eating,” said one representative from a local food safety NGO. “The fact that this operation was taking place right under the nose of the authorities is extremely alarming.”

Public backlash on social media has also been intense, with citizens expressing anger and fear over potential health risks and ethical concerns. Many have called for immediate legislation to regulate the meat trade more effectively and to impose harsher penalties on those found guilty of such practices.

The Islamabad Police, meanwhile, has stated that the dismantling of the illegal slaughterhouse is part of a broader crackdown on food-related crimes. Investigations are underway to uncover the full extent of the network and any possible connections to similar operations in other parts of the country.

“We are not ruling out the possibility of more such facilities operating elsewhere,” said a senior police officer involved in the investigation. “This case could just be the tip of the iceberg.”

As of now, the seized meat has been taken into custody and sent for laboratory testing, and the live donkeys are being kept at a secure location pending a decision from veterinary authorities regarding their condition and future treatment.

The authorities have assured the public that they are taking the matter seriously and that action will be taken against anyone found involved, directly or indirectly. “Food safety is non-negotiable,” Irfan Memon concluded. “We urge citizens to remain alert and report any suspicious food activities to the relevant authorities immediately.”

The incident has served as a grim reminder of the vulnerabilities in the food supply system and the critical need for robust oversight to protect public health and consumer trust in the country’s food industry.