FOR many, a day that should be dedicated to profound reflection on the spirit of sacrifice becomes a time to worry.

The growing populations of Pakistan’s cities over the years coupled with urban density and the lack of adequate civic management means that citizens are generally forced to carry out the Eidul Azha sacrifice in whatever space is at hand — with all the attendant problems of hygiene.

Moreover, there is the issue of the proper disposal of the unusable parts of the animal. Thankfully, in recent years, the major cities have seen some increased activity in terms of the collection of waste and the cleaning up of streets.

Also read: Going door to door to collect hides banned in Sindh

It is to be hoped that today and over the next two days, the citizenry as well as civic management authorities act responsibly in this regard.

Where the hides of the sacrificed animals are concerned, though, there is another situation since the numbers in which they are produced, as well as the need of tanneries and other industries for them, means they are as good as cash in hand.

While their disposal may be an issue for the average citizen, this is not the case for organisations that every year put up banners and create collection points in every city.

These groups include many that have been banned or are suspected of indulging in problematic religious, political or sectarian activities, yet they continue to operate. This raises the problem of cash from the sale of sacrificial hides being used for the purposes of crime and terrorism.

In lawless Karachi, there is the added challenge of criminals seeing Eid as an opportunity to snatch hides at gunpoint. City and law-enforcement authorities are working on the issue and the incidence of this crime has come down in Karachi since the clean-up of the city began. But a much more stringent effort must be made.

The people, meanwhile, can play their part by making sure that the group to which they donate the hides of the animals they have sacrificed are not suspect in any way.

Published in Dawn, September 25th, 2015

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