RAWALPINDI: The district administration on Wednesday set June 8 as the last date for applying for permission to collect sacrificial animal hides during Eidul Azha.

After receiving directives from the Punjab Home Department, Deputy Commissioner Dr Hassan Waqar Cheema imposed a ban on the collection of animal hides in the district.

The senior official said that all banned outfits were not allowed to collect hides while the charity organisations could collect them after getting permission from the district administration.

He said the Punjab home department had banned the collection of hides of sacrificial animals without the approval of the competent authority.

“The DC office in Rawalpindi will not receive any application for the permission letter after the above-mentioned date. Any organisation or person who collects hides of sacrificial animals without prior approval will be committing an offence, and strict action will be taken against them as per law,” he added.

He said applicants would have to submit their computerised national identity card copy, bank statement of the organisation, previous permission letter’s copy, and details of how many hides were collected in the past.

He also said special teams had been formed to stop illegal hide collection stalls in the coming days, adding that those who would be given permission would not be allowed to use loudspeakers and install stalls on main roads.

Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2024