Proscribed organisations barred from collecting hides

Welfare entities won't be allowed to collect them without permission

RAWALPINDI:

The Punjab Home Department has banned proscribed organisations from collecting pelts of sacrificial animals to raise funds.

The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) of Rawalpindi has been directed to arrest all workers, active and non-active, of banned outfits ahead of Eidul Azha and to book them under the Counter-Terrorism Act if they are found asking people to donate skins of sacrificial animals.

Following the instructions, personnel at the CTD across the district have started hauling people in whom they suspect have links with proscribed organisations.

CTD officials said that they have also a prepared list of active workers of banned outfits in the city.

They added that CTD mobile teams have been formed to monitor madrassas and offices linked to banned outfits. CTD officials said anyone found collecting pelts without the approval letter will be arrested, the contraband will be seized and they will be charged.

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Further, the Punjab government has banned the collection of pelts without obtaining a non-objection certificate (NOC) from the deputy commissioners.

Welfare, religious and other organisations will not be allowed to collect hides of sacrificial animals without permission from the district administration.

As of now, the hide of a goatskin costs some Rs150 while a sheepskin fetches Rs180. Cowhide is a bit expensive and its current market price is said to be around Rs500. However, most of the hides are marred by the non-professional and seasonal butchers and their rates go down by almost 50 per cent. A single cut in the hide can diminish its value.

The leather industry runs on hides of the animals slaughtered every day in the country, besides the seasonal bulge on Eidul Azha.

Meanwhile, the wholesale buyers of hides and skins are expected to announce new rates before Eidul Fitr.

Sources in the district administration confirmed that so far, the Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner (DC) Anwarul Haq has not allowed any organisation to collect pelts. It added that organisations seeking permission will have to submit an affidavit to testify to the purpose of collection.

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The district administration, as well as the special branch of police, will first conduct an inquiry into the organisation before issuing the NOC.

Hide collectors will also be obliged to maintain records of their collection as well of the purpose they were sold or used for.

Besides this, the collectors will be closely monitored for the three days of Eidul Azha.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 11^th, 2020.