‘Cattle markets may worsen Covid-19 spread’

Citizens urged to book sacrificial animals online via welfare organisations

KARACHI: Cattle markets for the sale of sacrificial animals ahead of Eidul Azha will create the risk of rapid spread of the coronavirus, warned Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho.

In a video statement issued on Saturday, the minister highlighted the likelihood of an increase in Covid-19 cases due to the absence of appropriate measures to contain the pandemic. “Cases will also rise as a result of greater interaction between people at Eidul Azha,” she opined.

Furthermore, according to Dr Pechuho, the province was likely to see heightened cases in the coming days since the ongoing smart lockdown had not been efficiently implemented.

“People are still moving around without face masks and violating the standard operating procedures,” she stated, adding that instead of the pandemic easing, 22 per cent of the tests done were turning out positive. “Since we don’t enforce dictatorship, we cannot implement the lockdown through force. We can only advise and request the people to wear masks and maintain distancing.”

Booking animals online

Meanwhile, Karachi Commissioner Iftikhar Shallwani appealed to citizens to utilise the online services offered by welfare organisations to book sacrificial animals for Eidul Azha.

Shallwani met representatives of welfare organisations on Saturday, where he was informed that animals could be booked online or at the centres of Edhi Foundation, Chhipa Welfare Association, Saylani Welfare Trust, Al-Khidmat Foundation and others, following which the meat would be delivered door-to-door or at the centres of aforementioned organisations.

Discouraging the practice of slaughtering animals on the roads, Shallwani said avoiding this would help prevent the spread of coronavirus and keep the city clean. He also urged other organisations to come forward and cooperate with the administration for this cause.