LAHORE, Jan 30: Sacrificial animals have started arriving in the provincial metropolis and are being paraded here and there to attract the customers.

Only a limited number of animals, mainly goats and sheep, have arrived in the city so far.

At present, the sale prices start from Rs4,000 because of limited number of animals available for sale.

The traders also demand fancy prices for the animals because they have a lot of time to wait for the customers ready to pay their desired prices.

Prices are likely to come down in case a large number of animals arrive in the city before Eid. Maximum number of animals will be sold on the day and night before Eidul Azha as usual.

The City District Government has earmarked the following 25 spots in six towns for sale of the sacrificial animals:

Aziz Bhatti Town: Both sides of Dharampura (Mustafabad), Main Road, Ghazi Road Jauray Pull, Main Walton Road, Bedian Road (Bhatta Chowk), Dogra Kalan (Burki Road), Bedian Road Lidhar and Hazrat Mianmir Shrine in Dharampura.

Allama Iqbal Town: Wahdat Road (WZ Studio), Multan Road (Bagh Stop, Ammunition Depot), Johar Town (Trade Centre site), Raiwind Road open space near Lahore University, Thokar Niazbeg vacant space near nursery, Sabzazaar (Liaquat Chowk) and Kot Kamboh (Bakar Mandi).

Nishtar Town: Vacant plot near Township Civil Defence Office, Kot Lakhpat (Theh Mor), Kahna Nau Ground, open space near Raiwind Town Committee office and open space near Chungi Amar Sidhu.

Data Ganj Bakhsh Town: Bund Road (Shera Kot), Sanda Road-Bund Road junction and Mayo Garden open space.

Ravi Town: Open space near Shahdara Match Factory.

No special tax has been imposed on the entry of the animals in the district either. The traders will only pay the prescribed Bakar Mandi Fee. They have been asked to inform the Executive District Officer (Revenue) in case anyone makes an undue demand.

The City District Government has also decided to arrange distribution of 300,000 polythene bags in the city district through the Solid Waste Management sanitary workers for disposal of the offals, intestines and other waste of sacrificial animals.

As many as 400 pickups are also being hired for two days for distribution among 150 union councils in the city district for the collection and disposal of the bags containing the sacrificial animals’ waste.

Meanwhile, the Punjab Environment Protection Department has asked the district governments to check the cleaning of the skulls and feet of the sacrificial animals by burning tyres and gas welding plants on Eidul Azha.

In a letter sent to all the District Nazimeen in the province, an EPD spokesman said that special mobile teams should be constituted to prevent the cleaning of the skulls and feet of sacrificial animals by burning tyres and using gas welding plants and punitive action against those engaged in the practice in violation of the environment protection law.

The spokesman said that use of gas welding plants and burning tyres was not advisable for the removal of hair from the skulls and feet of sacrificial animals for cooking purposes as it contaminated the meat and caused serious environmental pollution.

Hair should be removed either by using hot water or getting the skin removed from the skulls and feet. — Reporter