Islamic Development Bank (IDB) President Ahmad Muhammad Ali conducted yesterday a tour of Moaisem Abattoirs' operation and praised the high-tech slaughtering facility in Mina. He said "some unregulated slaughtering around the facility has an adverse effect on the sanitary and environmental conditions of the area.” Ali said that people had to be informed through the media and other means about the health hazard the unregulated slaughtering posed. He appealed to the media to assist in educating pilgrims about the health risks of “unregulated slaughtering.” The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia launched a program for optimal utilization of sacrificial meat in 1983. According to the program for the Utilization of Sacrificial Animals during Hajj, which is managed by the IDB, pilgrims can purchase coupons and delegate the bank to sacrifice an animal on their behalf. The idea behind the program is to make use of the meat by distributing it to the poor and needy both in the Kingdom and abroad. The IDB chief said that since the IDB had been involved in the program, it had made various improvements in order to meet the requirements of the ever-increasing demand. --MORE
