‘No makeshift cattle markets at public expense’

Local bodies to select locations across province

LAHORE:

No expenditure will be made from the public exchequer for establishing sale points of the sacrificial animals in the province this year.

 Chairing a meeting to review issues pertaining to sale of animals for the forthcoming Eidul Azha, Punjab Caretaker Local Government Minister Ibrahim Murad said on Monday that all the local bodies in Punjab had been directed for selecting suitable locations for setting up sale point of sacrificial animals away from the urban population.

 He underlined the need for devising an effective monitoring mechanism for smooth functioning of these make-shift cattle markets.

 The minister asked for establishing these sale points at least 15 days before Eidul Azha and widely publicising locations of these points for the public convenience.

 He directed that comprehensive security and cleaning arrangements should be made at these sale points for sacrificial animals.

 Arrangements for clean drinking water, lights, generators and parking should be ensured at these places.

 Moreover, road cutting, ramps, sewerage and water tanks should be provided at these points, he added.

 The minister said that drains should be de-silted within five kilometres radius of animal sale points to avoid public nuisance and pre-monsoon arrangements should be finalized at the earliest.

 He said that in view of Congo virus and lumpy skin diseases, only healthy animals should be allowed to be sold for sacrifice.

 The entry points of cities should be sprayed to prevent Congo virus, he emphasized.

 APP