Fumigation of sacrificial animals stressed

DC orders post-Eid clean-up of livestock pens, pet shops

RAWALPINDI: Fumigation of sacrificial animals with anti-tick spray is necessary to minimize the threat of Congo-Crimean Hemorrhagic Fever commonly known as Congo Fever, said Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Ali Randhawa on Monday.

The DC was doing rounds of cattle markets set up across the city. He directed authorities to maintain cleanliness in cattle markets.

During his visit, he inspected cleanliness, fumigation and other arrangements at Naseerabad and Bani Chowk checking points running under livestock department.

He directed livestock officials to administer vaccines to cattle being supplied to city and added all departments should cooperate with other in cleanliness operation during Eidul Azha. He instructed to launch a cleanliness campaign in pet  and bird shops across city after Eid in order to prevent diseases such as bird flu and Congo virus.

DC directed veterinary staff to actively perform their duties and said that any negligence on  their part would not be tolerated.

Decorated animals

As festive season of Eid-UL-Azha is fast approaching, cattle traders in a bid to attract customers appearing in different cities of the country with decorated animals.

People are enjoying the best time while jostling around at "Maweshi Mandi" (cattle market), after attaching the names of actors to the animals for sacrifice, a new trend is also being witnessed in cattle markets.

Sacrificial animals start trickling in as Eidul Azha approaches

According to Hamid Syed, who is running a shed of animals said that people express their sentiments and love by decorating their sacrificial animals.

The servants of the cattle sellers said that they give milk, almond and ghee [butter] to these specially-reared animals daily.

A trader from Sialkot Maweshi Mandi said that the extra-healthy white beautiful goats that were brought from Rajan Pur become the main attraction for the residents of the city with its size and weight.

To attract more citizens, animals are decorated with colorful garlands, sterling bands, embellished belts and crowns, said Nusrat Naeem a customer.

Citizens would not have to haggle over the price of sacrificial animals on the annual festival of sacrifice, Eid-ul-Azha as animals are being sold by their weight, a customer said.

A trader in Peshawar cattle market also appeared with heavy weight bull unique name 'Bablu' to attract the citizens said, every farm owner was proud of their merchandise, adding, I feed my cattle healthy food, which consists of makhan (butter) and doodh (milk)".

"We are demanding high prices because we spent much time in bringing up a healthy and gorgeous pair of sacrificial animal" , said another cattle trader Shafaqat Qayum.

Residents of Karachi have been clicking selfies with Badal, a giant goat, that is being offered for sacrifice on the occasion of Eidul Azha at price of Rs500,000. 'Bubbly', a cow weighing about two tons, is a glaring example of the rising popularity in Lahore cattle market. People are crowding the farm to get a glimpse of 'Bubbly'.

Traffic plan

Chief Traffic Officer (CTO), Muhammad Bin Ashraf, issued directions to City Traffic Police (CTP) Rawalpindi for maintaining traffic flow ahead of Eidul Azha.

In his directives, he said that make-shift cattle markets on road sides were completely prohibited as they were a major factor of traffic congestion.

He instructed all traffic wardens to actively perform their duties particularly during evenings ahead of Eid as people rushed to cattle markets at that time.

He directed to take strict action against wrong parking and instructed to lift all wrongly parked motorcycles and vehicles without any discrimnation.

He instructed all DSPs and Inspectors to position themselves in areas with heaviest traffic in peak hours and also keep a check on traffic flow in their respective circles.

CTO said that operation against wrong parking should remain continue while collaboration should be made with related authorities for operation against illegal encroachments on footpaths as they were made for people.

He said there should be a stringent action against all factors causing hurdle in smooth traffic flow in the city. 

Published in The Express Tribune, August 6^th, 2019.