Banned groups to be kept at bay on Eid

Strict action to prevent sacrificial hide collection ordered

LAHORE:

The Punjab Cabinet Committee on Law and Order has approved extension of the deployment of Rangers in Attock and Dera Ghazi Khan.

In a meeting, the committee reviewed arrangements for Eidul Azha and Muharram.

Committee Chairman Khawaja Salman Rafique said banned organisations would be barred from collecting hides of sacrificial animals. He said meetings of all district intelligence committees should be convened regarding the Eid preparations.

Instructions have been given to quickly dispose of the applications of registered organisations regarding the collection of skins.

Cabinet Committee Co-Chairman Bilal Yasin said strict monitoring of the entry and exit routes of animal markets was extremely important.

He said the administrations of all districts should clearly display the lists of banned organisations.

The district administrations should also prevent extortion on the occasion, he added.

Provincial Minister Chaudhry Shafay Hussain said hate speech and illegal use of loudspeakers would also be curbed.

Provincial Minister Bilal Akbar Khan said strict monitoring of banned organisations should be ensured to prevent the collection of sacrificial hides by them. He said the peace committees should be mobilised across Punjab.

Provincial Minister Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani said maximum convenience should be provided to the citizens in livestock markets.

Punjab Home Secretary Dr Ahmed Javed Qazi said control rooms should be established in all districts and connected to the central control room of the department.

The cabinet committee approved the appointment of price control magistrates in various districts. It also approved allocation of Rs650 million for cricket matches, by-elections, Urs and other expenses.

The committee appreciated a special development package launched after a successful operation in the Katcha area and considered various suggestions.

Meanwhile, Punjab Local Government Secretary Shakeel Ahmad Mian has sought separate cleanliness plans for every tehsil to ensure the best sanitation services for citizens on the Eid. He was chairing a meeting to review operational preparedness for the occasion across Punjab.

Suthra Punjab Authority Director General Babar Sahib Din and the managing directors of all District Suthra Punjab Agencies across the province participated in the meeting.

The secretary instructed the MDs to ensure the timely deployment of additional staff, machinery and resources in accordance with the needs of the districts.

He said strict legal action would be taken against those who dispose of animal waste and remains on roads, in drains, canals or open places. The violators may also face fines of up to Rs50,000.

The provincial secretary ordered complete checking of all waste collection points, dumpers, vehicles and machinery ahead of the Eid.

He said cleanliness plans should also be prepared for the surroundings of mosques, Eid prayer grounds and cattle markets.

The local government secretary also ordered digital monitoring of the cleanliness operations on all three days of Eid through the Central Control Room of the Suthra Punjab Authority. A technologically advanced control room has been established, enabling real-time supervision of field operations.

According to a statement, Suthra Punjab teams will remain active in the field continuously for 72 hours, while emergency response personnel and backup machinery in every tehsil will also remain on alert.

The secretary said environment-friendly waste bags would be distributed free of charge in all union councils. Warning officials against negligence and shortcomings, he said additional resources were being arranged and awareness campaigns intensified for the occasion.

With additional input from APP