Dumping offal in drain to incur Rs50k penalty

LAHORE:

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz directed administrative and police officers across Punjab on Friday to remain in the field on Eidul Azha instead of staying in offices, as the provincial government finalised arrangements for security, cleanliness and public facilitation during the holidays.

Chairing a video-link meeting, she ordered the imposition of a fine of Rs50,000 for throwing animal waste and offal in streets, neighbourhoods, drains and canals during Eid days.

She issued guidelines to all deputy commissioners and district police officers, warning that negligence or poor implementation of orders would not be tolerated.

Authorities were also directed to strictly enforce the restriction of sale of sacrificial animals only at designated cattle markets and take action against illegal livestock trading in unauthorised areas.

The participants were informed that digital monitoring and vigilance would be ensured at cattle markets, along with strict security arrangements to prevent theft and robbery. The chief minister directed authorities to strictly enforce the ban on the collection of sacrificial animals' hides by proscribed organisations.

The use of loudspeakers at hide collection camps will also be banned.

According to a statement, special security measures and continuous combing operations in sensitive areas were ordered.

Instructions were also issued to strictly enforce the ban on display of weapons and firing.

The chief minister directed authorities to perfume Eidgahs and mosques with rose water and ensure cleanliness in railway colonies, cantonment areas and private housing societies.

She also ordered uninterrupted water supply during Eid holidays, display of fare lists at bus stands and inside buses, and covering of dumping sites near airports.

Temporary swings were banned across the province, while authorities were instructed to conduct safety checking of amusement rides installed in parks.

Directions were also issued for cyber patrolling to curb hate material on social media.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said in her message on the International Day for Biological Diversity that effective and sustainable measures were being taken in the province for the protection of endangered species and conservation of the natural ecosystem.

She stated that a special force and helpline had been made operational to prevent illegal hunting. She added that, for the first time in Punjab, women had also been inducted into the regular wildlife force.

The chief minister said the Wildlife Helpline 1107 had been activated for complaints and assistance, adding that modern systems, including GPS trackers, had also been introduced for the first time for wildlife monitoring and census.

By-election win

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Friday thanked the people of provincial assembly constituency PP-83, Khushab, following the unopposed victory of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Sardar Zafar Abbas Baloch in a by-election.

Congratulating the successful candidate, the chief minister expressed gratitude to the people of Khushab for their support.

CM Maryam Nawaz said the unopposed victory in the by-election had reaffirmed the popularity of PML-N. She said the journey of public service under the leadership of party president Nawaz Sharif would continue.

The chief minister stated that the PML-N government had set a record of launching the public welfare and development projects within the shortest time.