The Rawalpindi administration has placed a ban on the collection of sacrificial animals' hides without a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the authorities concerned.
The Rawalpindi district administration said that no one would be allowed to collect hides of sacrificial animals without the NOC from the authorities concerned as per the directives of the Punjab government.
The Rawalpindi deputy commissioner's office said that applications for NoCs collection of hides of sacrificial animals would be received until June 30, and no application would be entertained after the deadline. Any organisation or person who would collect hides of the sacrificial animals without prior approval will be dealt with according to law, the office said
On the other hand, as few days have left for Eidul Azha, prices of sacrificial animals have skyrocketed in the cattle markets of the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
Traders and buyers at cattle markets could be seen arguing over the prices with sellers citing rising transportation and related costs as reasons behind the exorbitant rates of animals.
Most people visiting animal markets returned home empty-handed after observing the high prices of animals which they said were beyond their purchasing power.
On the other hand, the authorities concerned have also failed to enforce the ban on the sale of sacrificial animals on roads, streets and markets, as several roads of Rawalpindi city and Cantonment areas have been turned into cattle markets.
Cattle traders usually come to Rawalpindi from other parts of the district like Fateh Jang, Talagang, Attock, Taxila, Gujar Khan and other cities. The citizens said that the cattle markets were far away, and the fare from the cattle market to the city was up to Rs4,000 to Rs6,000. They said that the prices of animals in local bazaars were up to Rs20,000 cheaper compared to the cattle markets.
Due to the increased market fee, many cattle sellers have preferred to sell their herd in the open market instead of taking them to the dedicated cattle market at Bhata Chowk.
The district administration had earlier issued a notification to ban the open sale of sacrificial animals. However, the sellers of all the adjoining areas of Rawalpindi district have stopped taking animals to the dedicated cattle market and have started selling a pair of four to five small animals and two large animals at the temporary set-up stall, streets and streets in the city. After selling the animals, the sellers bring more animals to sell to residents in different city and cantonment areas. Sacrificial animals are sold all day long till late at night on roads and streets.
A seller, Malik Fayyaz, claimed that there was no arrangement of shade, water and electricity in the cattle markets, so by roaming around in the city, they sell animals on roads and streets easily and at cheap rates and fetch a handsome profit.
The district administration spokesman said that there was a ban on the sale of animals in city streets, bazaars and roads, adding that strict action per the law would be taken against those who sell animals in the city bazaars. An operation against the illegal sale of animals would be launched and animals would be confiscated, he said. The spokesman said that the administration has set up 11 cattle markets across the district for Eidul Azha.
In Rawalpindi, cattle markets of sacrificial animals had been set up at Bhatta Chowk, Punjab Cooperative Housing Society Adiala Road and Chakri Road near Al-Haram City.
Gujar Khan cattle market has been set up on Gulyana Road, Mangal Chowk near Kalar by-pass, Tanki road near Chan Shah Jalyar Kahuta, Chovera Bazaar near Rescue-1122, Kotli Sattian, HIT near Sunday Bazaar timber market road Taxila, Sharif Hospital Stop on G.T. Road Wah Cantt, Tehsil Road, Lower Bazaar Murree and Jhika Gali Murree.
The administration advised citizens to adopt all possible preventive measures to avoid contracting the coronavirus and the Congo virus on Eidul Azha.
According to Rawalpindi and Chaklala Cantonment Boards' sspokespersons, teams have been mobilised to check illegal cattle markets. He said that no animal vendor would be allowed to bring sacrificial animals into the residential areas.
He added that restrictions had been placed on free movement for sacrificial animals inside the city to streamline the spraying of animals at entry points to ensure their protection from the virus and ticks. The teams of the livestock department would also continue anti-congo spray in and at main entries of the cattle markets.
The sale and purchase of sacrificial animals on the roads and streets were banned, and all-out efforts would be made to keep the Cantonment areas neat and clean during Eidul Azha, he said. The Rawalpindi City Traffic Police have also deployed 117 personnel including 88 traffic wardens to regulate traffic near cattle markets.
Additional input APP
Published in The Express Tribune, July 4th, 2022.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ