Karachi Municipal Corporation has relieved Karachi Zoo’s senior director, Khalid Hashmi, of his duties and said that they no longer require his services in a letter addressed to the additional chief secretary of Sindh Government.

The letter instructed the Zoo director to report to the Local government and HTP department.

KMC sources said that the reason behind the director’s termination was negligence. The Zoo director was suspended once before in 2021 for negligence over the death of a white lion.

On April 5, a three-member inquiry committee was formed to investigate the complaint of two animal food contractors who accused the zoo’s senior director of extorting money from them.

Two contractors responsible for the animal food supply accused the zoo’s senior director of extorting money from them in letters addressed to the administrator of Karachi Municipal Corporation on March 23.

When Aaj News asked Zoo Director Khalid Hashmi about the allegations, he said that it was all propaganda and the contractor was trying to malign him. Khalid Hashmi was suspended for negligence in 2021 over the death of a white lion.

Hashmi claimed that the animals were being fed properly and there were no issues with the quantity of food or diet plan.

To verify this claim, Aaj News asked a zookeeper if this was true. “The news about the lack of food is true,” he said. “We’re supposed to provide the food to the animals according to their diet plan, but there are some issues in the quality and quantity.”

The Karachi Zoo has faced other crises in recent months. Many animals and birds have died due to the negligence of the administration.

“There are a few animals who need to feed fresh meat every day,” sources at the zoo said, adding that KMC’s finance department has been tasked with paying the bills.

Moreover, animal welfare organization, Four Paws, had strongly recommended relocating the ailing elephant, Noor Jehan, and her companion Madhubala from Karachi Zoo in 2021 as it does “not comply” with international standards, to a species-appropriate place that offers better living conditions for the elephants. No action was taken in this regard.