Islamabad’s food scene faces scandal after donkey meat was seized near Tarnol Morr. With Lahore already infamous for Khota Biryani, now the capital joins the mystery meat club, alarming food lovers.
Imran Malik – July 27, 2025
Islamabad — our dignified capital city, known for its diplomatic calm and overpriced coffee — has once again made headlines. And this time, it smells suspiciously like “beef booti”… or perhaps neighbors’ meat?
Just a few days ago, during a quick culinary tour, we sampled some tender beef booti from a trendy restaurant — flavor so rich, it almost matched the legendary taste of Lahore’s spicy street-side offerings. Our hearts said, “Wow!” Our stomachs said, “Encore!”
But then came the gut-wrenching news: several maunds of donkey meat seized near Tarnol Morr — enough to make every kebab you’ve ever eaten kick back.
Now we’re left questioning: was that “beef” really from a cow… or just a fast-moving, long-eared substitute with a bray?
Lahore has long been the punchline for scandals involving donkey meat. But now Islamabad, our seat of power and wannabe European suburb, is quickly catching up. Elite restaurants are silent. Customers now demand meat IDs. Butchers are brainstorming new names: “Mountain buffalo”? “Urban wildebeest”?
So, should we laugh? Cry? Or just carry a CNIC scanner on our next BBQ outing?
Because in today’s Pakistan, neither the kebab is innocent, nor the kitchen holy. Only the donkey remains… utterly boneless and eternally misunderstood.
