CDGR fails to appoint veterinary doctors at sale points, cattle markets

Rawalpindi

All claims regarding to appoint veterinary doctors to spray pesticide and vaccination of sacrificial animals at every sale point and cattle markets proved nothing as the city district government, Rawalpindi seems to be taking ‘Congo Virus’ issue non-seriously. Sale and purchase of sacrificial animals have picked momentum while more than 200,000 sacrificial animals (big and small) have been brought at different sale points and cattle markets in twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

A survey conducted by ‘The News’ that neither spray/injection nor veterinary doctor was available at a single sale point in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The sale points at Girja Road, Adiala Road, Misriyal Road, KRL Road, Gulzar-e-Quaid, Chaklala Ground, Morgah Road, Gulistan Colony, Ghani Road, Bagh-e-Sardaran, Commercial Market, IJ Principal Road, Katarian, Dhoke Hassu, Pirwadhai, Khayaban-e-Sir Syed, Arshi Block, Rawal Road, Chungi No22, Muslim Town, Jhanda Chichi and Satellite Town are without veterinary doctors and spray/injection. Not only sale points but cattle markets at Rawat, Channi, Adiala and Chakri are also without veterinary doctors. Similarly, biggest cattle market in I-12 Islamabad was also without veterinary doctors, spray and injections.

Majority of animals have brought from Mardan, Sahiwal, Khushab, Sargodha, Sindh, Multan, Jhang, Attock, Sawabi, Gujrat and Bhakkar.

Executive District Officer (EDO) Livestock Dr Arshad Latif said that he has ordered deployment of two doctors at every sale point. “I will take strict action against veterinary doctors for not performing their duties, he warned. He said that he will personally visit all sale points and cattle markets to monitor the situation.

Talking to ‘The News’ buyers and sellers said that veterinary doctors should be present at sale points to spray insecticide and inject vaccine to sacrificial animals. The spray and injection for sacrificial animals should be free of cost to minimise chances of spread of ‘Congo Virus’, they said.

Muhammad Nawaz, a buyer said that there were no arrangements of veterinary doctors or spray and injection but mask and gloves sellers were moving everywhere in cattle markets and selling mask and gloves at Rs10 to Rs20. The local management should do practical work instead of paper work, he denounced.

Majority of citizens is least interested in buying sacrificial animals due to fear of ‘Congo Virus’ and are hoping that sellers will sell animals on low prices this year as compared to last year.

The deadly disease has claimed several lives in the last month, including a doctor from Bahawalpur. So far, there is no policy requiring the animals to be vaccinated before being granted entry into the markets.

Public has appealed to the government to provide ‘Congo Free’ animals to them. There is a fear and panic among public that animals have ‘Congo Virus’ therefore majority of them are reluctant to buy animals, they said.

Javed Ahmed Khan, a big dealer of animals said that they are upset regarding the news of ‘Congo Virus’ in animals. It has strongly affected our sale as majority of buyers are in the state of fear, he said.

Public usually start buying sacrificial animals a month before Eid every year but this year we are empty handed yet due to fear of ‘Congo Virus’ in animals, he said. He said that they invest millions of rupees in animals but they have fears that they could suffer huge losses this year. The local government should provide us veterinary doctors for vaccination of animals free of cost, he said.