KARACHI, Feb 10: The Bin Qasim and Malir town committees have been directed to charge and recover cattle entry fees in accordance with the schedules notified by the Sindh government.

According to the gazette notifications of May 31, 2002, and August 13, 2002, the rates specified for Bin Qasim are camels Rs10 per head, cows and buffaloes Rs5 per head and goats and sheep Rs2 per head.

The rates notified for Malir by a March 11, 2002 notification are camels Rs4 per head, cows and buffaloes Rs3 per head and goats and sheep Re1 per head.

The rates were increased by the Bin Qasim committee to Rs100 for a camel, a cow or a buffalo and Rs30 for a goat or a sheep and by the Malir committee to Rs150 for a camel or a cow or buffalo and Rs50 for a goat or a sheep. The new rates were to remain in effect just before and after Eidul Azha.

The Cattle Merchants Association, through Advocate Navin Merchant, challenged the increase and accepting the petition, a division bench of the Sindh High Court restored the rates notified by the provincial government. The bench, comprising Justice S. A. Sarwana and Justice Muhammad Mujeebullah Siddiqui, observed that the contractors awarded fee collection contracts for the Eidul Azha period should be entitled to appropriate adjustments in the light of its order for the specified period only.