Rat Crisis In Pakistan | Why Is Pakistan Spending PKR 1.2 Million On Hunter Cats?

Pakistani lawmakers find themselves in a peculiar predicament, though it has nothing to do with the usual challenges of political instability, soaring inflation, ethnic tensions, rising terrorism, or economic woes.

Instead, the issue at hand is rats. It might seem unbelievable, but the Pakistani Parliament has allocated a budget of PKR 1.2 million ($4,300) to combat this rodent menace through a rather unconventional strategy.

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Why Is Pakistan Spending PKR 1.2 Million On Hunter Cats?

According to The Express Tribune, a Pakistan-based news outlet, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has been tasked with employing "special hunter cats" to tackle the problem. Additionally, the budget will be used to install netted barriers within the parliamentary premises, as reported by Wion.

To carry out this pest control initiative, private firms are expected to be engaged by the CDA to address the infestation in key areas, including the Senate and National Assembly secretariats. Reports suggest that the rat population within the parliament building has surged, likely due to infested ceilings. The longstanding issue of poor hygiene in Pakistan's parliament has only exacerbated the problem.

In 2022, the Islamabad administration had to seal two cafeterias in the Parliament House after cockroaches were found in the food, a situation that had already driven lawmakers away from dining at these outlets due to unsanitary conditions. The discovery led to a raid by local district officials, resulting in the closure of the offending eateries, as per media reports.

Concerns about food quality have been raised before. In 2019, lawmakers voiced their displeasure over the quality of meat served in the cafeteria. Even earlier, in 2014, a cockroach was shockingly discovered inside a ketchup bottle.

Despite the often lacklustre response to addressing the hardships faced by the general public, Pakistani lawmakers appear committed to tackling the rodent issue, prioritizing their safety within the parliament house. With "hunter cats" set to be deployed, the battle against the rats is now a top priority for the CDA and those working within Pakistan's parliamentary precincts.