JEDDAH: The Saudi government has spent over SR 1 billion on modern automated slaughterhouses of the Sacrificial Meat Utilization Project, said Ahmad Mohamed Ali, president of the Islamic Development Bank, which manages the project.
Addressing a meeting at IDB headquarters, the president said the slaughterhouses are equipped with state-of-the-art facilities. The project is meant to serve pilgrims by providing sacrificial animals that meet all Shariah and health requirements and by ensuring the cleanliness of the environment around the holy sites. He said a team of 700 veterinarians inspects the livestock for the religious ritual. About 400 religious scholars have been appointed to supervise the project.
The Saudi government established the project 31 years ago. Ali commended the government’s generous support for the project.
He said the project helps to make the meat available to its rightful beneficiaries among the poor in Makkah and other holy sites, as well as beneficiaries in Muslim countries and Muslim communities all over the world. The IDB president pointed out that the project has enabled pilgrims to perform animal sacrifice with great ease and perform their Haj duties comfortably. The project coupons are available with entities such as Al-Rajhi, Al-Amoudi, and Hadyat Al-Hajj Wal Moatamer as well as with Saudi Post outlets throughout the Kingdom and their website.
The coupons can also be bought through online services of the Adahi project. Coupon price for this year will be SR 450, ($ 120 or 96 euros).
He indicated that people could also purchase coupons through the project’s website www.adahi.org, either through credit card or money transfer. He indicated that the project last year posted a record utilization of 1,000432 livestock, which were later distributed among the needy inside the Kingdom and among the poor in 27 Muslim countries.
The president called on the media to help enlighten pilgrims on the need to avoid going to the project’s abattoirs during peak times. He then answered questions on the bank’s various activities in general and about the meat utilization project in particular.
SR 1 billion spent on sacrificial meat project
