RAWALPINDI: The district administration will establish 11 cattle markets from June 7 and has imposed a ban on establishment of illegal markets and sale of sacrificial animals in streets and roads.

Deputy Commissioner Dr Hassan Waqar Cheema told Dawn that in the wake of Congo fever cases in Attock, the Rawalpindi district administration had decided to establish cattle markets where preventive measures would be taken to protect people as well as animals from the virus. He said the Punjab government had also directed for taking all standard operating measures in this regard.

Five of the 11 markets will be established in Rawalpindi city - Bhatta Chowk, Mouza Misriot, Gulistan Colony, Khayaban-i-Sir Syed and Channi Sher Alam. Two markets each will be established in Gujar Khan and Taxila while one market each will be set up in Kallar Syedan and Kahuta.

Meanwhile, in a meeting to review the arrangements the DC said that checkpoints should be established at all entrances of the district before the setting up of the cattle markets.

He said the duties of livestock, veterinary doctors, revenue, police and civil defence personnel should be assigned at the checkposts. The duty roster should be updated on a daily basis. He said the arrangements should be made according to the SOPs. Livestock staff should be present along with medicines in these checkposts.

He said that cattle markets should be established away from populated areas. The record of all types of animals present in the cattle markets should be kept.

A veterinary doctor should also be present at the entrance of every market to allow only local level animals after proper check-up so that no sick animal entered the market.

He said section 144 should be implemented so that no illegal cattle market is established. “It is summer season, tents should be set up in all the markets and provision of animal fodder and water should be ensured. Special arrangements should be made for clean drinking water for the people in cattle markets,” he said.

In the meeting, Additional Deputy Commissioner Revenue Nabil Riaz Sindhu, Additional Deputy Commissioner General Mujahid Abbas, assistant commissioners, officers of Livestock Department and other related departments were present.

Published in Dawn, May 29th, 2024