Pakistan allocates Rs 1.2 million to employ cats to hunt rats in Parliament

Pakistan is grappling with a series of challenges including a severe economic downturn, political instability, skyrocketing inflation, widespread hunger and persistent terrorism. Despite these issues and missing its GDP growth targets, the country has witnessed a surprising rise in its donkey population, which surged to 5.9 million in the fiscal year 2023-24.

In an unusual twist, the government has now turned to employing hunting cats to combat a rat infestation in the Parliament House, allocating a budget of Rs 1.2 million for this unique pest control strategy, according to Pakistani media reports.

Read Also: Pakistan misses GDP growth target but donkey population surges to 5.9 million in FY 2023-24

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has devised a plan that leverages the natural predatory instincts of hunting cats to address the rat problem within the Parliament premises, Pakistan’s media outlets reported, adding that the strategy includes not only deploying these feline hunters but also installing specially designed netted windows to trap and prevent rats from entering sensitive areas.

Pakistan’s government is teetering on the brink of economic collapse, heavily reliant on IMF bailouts to sustain a rapidly deteriorating economy. Rampant corruption within the administration has exacerbated the crisis, inflicting severe hardship on the general public.

The country’s history of boom-and-bust cycles has led to 22 IMF bailouts since 1958, with the current debt standing at $6.28 billion. The latest economic crisis has pushed Pakistan to the brink of sovereign default, with acute shortages of essential commodities like wheat, threatening food security. The impact on ordinary citizens has been severe, with parents forced to move children to less expensive schools and economists forecasting job losses, social unrest, and a shrinking GDP.

Experts attribute Pakistan’s fiscal woes to its heavy dependence on foreign aid and grants, has undermined its fiscal health. Successive governments have been criticized for failing to broaden the tax base and diversify revenue streams.