Six held for illegal sale of cattle

ISLAMABAD:

Islamabad Capital Territory Administration (ICTA) got six people arrested during its operation against illegal cattle markets on Tuesday. As per the directions of the Islamabad Deputy Commissioner (DC) Hamza Shafqaat, section 144 was imposed in the capital territory and there was a ban on setting up cattle markets other than four designated sites. These sites include Tarnol, Taramri, Rawat, and Barakahu. The police officials said that they had registered cases against cattle traders who were selling sacrificial animals at open plots and streets. ICTA has urged residents of the federal capital to follow precautionary guidelines against the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) when buying sacrificial animals during Eidul Azha, encouraging them to make their purchases online, from the safety of their homes. The Islamabad administration has issued a notification regarding the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for Eidul Azha. The circular has termed the next three months as crucial, stating that while cases have slowed, there remains the possibility of another spike in cases. Authorities have strictly imposed the Covid-19 and the Congo fever preventive SOPs at the designated markets for the sacrificial animals. People are asked to wear masks and gloves while entering the sale points, while health officials spray animals with anti-tick chemical.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 29^th, 2020.