Director General (COORD/PDU), Senate Mir Shai Mazar Baloch, attending the meeting between Senate Parliamentary Development Unit (PDU) and the team of Pakistan Humanitarian Forum (PHF), at Parliament House
Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue, Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, presiding over a meeting of the Committee at Parliament House
Chairman Senate Standing Committee On Information Technology And Telecommunication, Senator Kauda Babar, presiding over a meeting of the Committee at Parliament House
Country Director World Bank for Pakistan, Najy Benhassine calling on Chairman Senate Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani at Parliament House
Sacrificial animals’ prices skyrocket with Eidul Azha just 2 weeks away
Dr. Saeed Ahmad Ali
LAHORE, Jun 16 (APP): With Eidul Azha just two weeks away, the prices of sacrificial animals, especially goats and sheep, have increased manifold. Most makeshift sacrificial animals’ markets in the provincial metropolis, including the Shahpur Kanjran, the largest one in Lahore, became functional on Friday, attracting a considerable number of potential buyers. However, most of visitors were seen returning without purchasing any animals, as the prices of sacrificial animals, what they say, were skyrocketing.
The Metropolitan Corporation Lahore (MCL) specified 10 sites for establishment of makeshift cattle markets and sales points this year, and divided the city into seven zones for the purpose. Traders and cattle breeders, while responding to a survey, carried out by APP, said that major factors of skyrocketing of prices of sacrificial animals were because of high transportation and animal feeding costs, and the loss of livestock during the last year’s floods.
The high prices of sacrificial animals have affected the low-income and salaried class the most. According to the survey, most people are giving preference to collective sacrifice due to high prices of sacrificial animals. They said that in Lahore markets, this year around 30 to 35 per cent more prices of sacrificial animals were being demanded by the cattle owners.
A visit to different sale points also revealed that the price of a normal size goat, sheep, or lamb ranges from Rs 65,000 to Rs 75,000, whereas a medium-size cow and calf ranged from Rs 140,000 to Rs 300,000.
Transporting animals from south Punjab to cities like Lahore, Rawalpindi or Faisalabad had gone a pricey affair,” Israr Gopang, a livestock breeder from Dera Ghazi Khan, said. When asked to comment on the high prices, he replied that last year a truck carrying animals to Lahore from Mithan Kot and Dera Ghazi Khan would cost Rs 48,000 to 50,000, but this year transporters were demanding around Rs 95,000 to 100,000 for the same task.
On the other hand, sellers of sacrificial animals said that the main reason behind high prices of animals was increased costs of transportation and animal fodder. These factors are likely to trigger a supply shortage in the cattle markets as farmers would not be willing to come to Lahore, which would then result in traders charging even more,” Gopang claimed.
“Another reason why the prices are high this year is the inflation rate. For instance, last year, the price of beef was Rs 450 per kilogram, while this year, it is increased to Rs 700 per kilogram,” he added.
Moreover, caretaker Punjab Local Government Minister Ibrahim Murad chaired a meeting recently to review the arrangements for sale and purchase of sacrificial animals. He directed the officials concerned to make the sale points operational with the best arrangements ahead of Eidul Azha, and widely publicise its locations for public convenience through the media. Murad also directed them to provide cleaning arrangements including comprehensive security at the sale points.
Moreover, arrangements for clean drinking water, power generators, lights, and parking should be ensured at these points while sewerage, ramps, and water tanks should be provided,” he ordered, adding that drains should be cleaned within five kilometres radius of animal sale points, to avoid public inconvenience, and pre-monsoon arrangements should also be complete at the earliest.
Meanwhile, keeping in view the security measures regarding the Congo virus and lumpy skin diseases, the minister said that only healthy animals should be allowed to be brought to the cattle markets while the entry points of cities should be sprayed to prevent the Congo virus.
Among the 10 makeshift markets and sale points, three temporary markets have been established at LDA Avenue-I (on Raiwind Road) and Pine Avenue Road, Nishter Zone at LDA City (near Sidhar Village at Kahna Kachha, two at Allama Iqbal Zone at NFC Society (near Bahria Town) and Raiwind (near Haveli Markaz, opposite Nisar Spring Mills on Sundar Road), and one each selling point at Turkey Road, near LWMC dumping point in Lakhodair (Wagha Zone), Hazrat Usman Ghani Road, near Saggian Road (Data Ganj Baksh Zone), Site for IT University (Main Campus) on Barki Road, near Paragon Society (Aziz Bhatti Zone), Faqeer Muhammad Dagya Road, near SNGPL Office (Ravi Zone) and Sports Complex at Adda Rakh Chabeel, near Manwan Hospital (Shalimar Zone). Like last year, the Lahore district administration intends to prohibit trading sacrificial animals outside these markets.
Nawaz Sharif to return to lead Pakistan on road to progress & prosperity: PM
ISLAMABAD, Jun 16 (APP): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Friday here said Nawaz Sharif would return from abroad to lead the country to progress and prosperity after becoming prime minister for the fourth time.
Speaking after his re-election as President of Pakistan Muslim League(N) for a four year term at the party’s Central General Council meeting, he said Nawaz Sharif was the builder of modern Pakistan and during his tenure as prime minister he eliminated energy shortages, laid down the network of roads, built infrastructure and developed agriculture, industry and other vital sectors of the economy.
He said he would hand over the presidentship of the party to Nawaz Sharif after his return to Pakistan.
He thanked the General Council for electing him as its new president and his associates for the leadership positions in the party.
He lauded Maryam Nawaz for courageously leading the party all across Pakistan despite all the difficulties that came in her way.
He said sixty percent of the population of the country were youth and Pakistan Muslim League (N) needed young leaders for the future.
He appreciated workers of the party for standing by PML(N) despite going through hardships in jails and facing difficulties, adding similarly party leadership also stood its ground and faced oppression and suffering with courage and determination.
He said Finance Minister Ishaq Dar was working hard to steer the country’s economy out of the present difficulties. Those who were unduly criticizing Ishaq Dar had no place in the party, he added.
The prime minister said the government met all the conditions of International Monetary Fund for meeting financial needs of the country.
He reminded that PML(N) spent its political capital for the sake of the state at a time when inflation was high and international commodity prices skyrocketed.
Despite difficult economic conditions, common man was given relief in the budget and salaries were raised by 35 percent and pensions by 17 percent, he noted adding Pakistani nation was brave and would emerge from the current challenges. He said his government signed agreement with Azerbaijan to import gas and bought oil from Russia.
He criticized Imran Niazi for spreading lies and false propaganda for his ulterior motives and to mislead people.
The PM said Nawaz Sharif had a comprehensive policy on Kashmir and he forcefully raised the issue of Kashmir at the international forums including the United Nations.
Every Pakistani was ready to offer sacrifices for the freedom of Kashmir and no compromise would be made on the rights of Kashmiri people, he added.
Sikh community seeks probe as Khalistan leader mysteriously dies in UK
ISLAMABAD, Jun 16 (APP): The Sikh community in the UK has called for a “full investigation” into the death of Avtar Singh Khanda, a Khalistan Movement leader who mysteriously died in Birmingham.
Avtar Singh Khanda had led the protests at the Indian High Commission in London earlier this year when the Indian flag was pulled down at the Indian High Commission by the Khalistan activists.
Cellphone videos posted on social media showed protesters climbing the building and taking down the Indian flag. Avtar Singh Khanda was seen leading the protest in the videos.
India had registered strong protest over the incident, saying “the UK government’s “indifference” to Indian diplomats and personnel was “unacceptable”.
According to the media reports, Avtar Singh Khanda was admitted to a Birmingham hospital after he complained of uneasiness on Monday. The exact cause of his death is not clear yet, however the Sikh community cast doubts over the death and sought a probe into it.
In a letter to the UK Police, CEO Khalsa Aid International Ravinder Singh requested a “full investigation and a full coroner’s report” into the death of Avtar Singh Khanda which caused concern amongst the community across the UK and globally.
“This death follows a number of other untimely deaths of Sikh activists within the last 18 months. We seek reassurance that this death is not politically motivated or sinister,” he said.
He said the deceased’s family has also requested a post-mortem to establish the cause of death.
The Indian media reports that Avtar Singh Khanda suffered from blood cancer, while the close circles rejected the claim.
Some Indian newspapers also reported that Avtar Singh Khanda was suspected to have been poisoned, though the facts were yet to be ascertained.
Govt to make no compromise on quality education, supremacy of merit: Ghulam Ali
PESHAWAR, Jun 16 (APP):Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor, Haji Ghulam Ali here Friday said that provision of quality education was the top priority of the government and no compromise would be made on the supremacy of merit and learning in the educational institutions.
He was addressing a function after laying the foundation stone of the Peshawar Model Softer project of the Peshawar Model Educational Institute during his visit to the City University of Science and Technology, Peshawar.
Provincial ministers Adnan Jalil, Saboor Sethi, Gayoor Sethi and Secretary Higher Education were present on the occasion.
While appreciating the owners and administration of the City University and its allied education institutions for the provision of quality education at a minimum fee to people, the Governor said that the promotion of quality education was the top priority of the government and no compromise would be made on quality education and supremacy of merit.
He said there was a need for solid thinking if the performance of the government education institutions was not improved despite resources provided by the Government.
He said the country can make rapid progress and achieve economic growth by providing quality education to children.
Vendor selling apricots (Khurmani) at Pishin Stop
Artists performing drama ” Khoya Hua Wajood ” during Sindh Theatre Festival 2023 at ZA Bhutto Open Air Theater Arts Council
