LAHORE: The government of Punjab has decided to set up the cattle markets outside the city limits ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, setting up Friday a nine-membercommittee headed by the provincial law minister to oversee the matter.
The committee to oversee setting up of cattle markets was tasked to compile standard operating procedures (SOPs) to prevent the spread of the deadly coronavirus. It was also decided that cattle-owners and customers would be fined should there be a violation of the precautionary measures.
In this regard, Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar said sacrificial animals were an important part of the rural economy, which he wished to flourish.
Cattle markets, therefore, would be set up outside the city's limits in July, with the relevantdeputy commissioners assigned to determine their locations.
Related: Cattle markets not to be set up in Karachi over rising coronavirus cases
To ensure that no sick sacrificial animals were brought to the cattle markets for sale, special committees were formed to check the livestock.
Earlier this month, Sindh's local government department had penned a letter to the home department, requesting revocation of the cattle markets'licenses on the back of a rising number of coronavirus cases in Karachi and the risk that such gatherings posed.
Permission to set up the markets, however, had previously been given on June 3 in response to a letter from the Sindh home department.