TAXILA: Punjab Minister for Social Welfare and Baitul Maal Syed Yawar Abbas Bokhari on Tuesday paid a surprise visit to Attock Cattle Market to ensure implementation of Covid-19 SOPs besides reviewing facilities being offered to the visitors. PTI focal person for Attock Syed Khawar Boukhari, officials of district administration, municipal committee, livestock and health department were also present on the occasion.

He reviewed arrangements being made in the market after visiting the health and livestock department counters to assess the provision of required facilities in time. The minister checked the staff attendance on the occasion and reviewed the arrangements made across the area.

Later, Mr Bokhari met brokers and cattle buyers to ascertain whether they were satisfied with the facilities.

They identified some issues and urged the minister to address them forthwith.

The minister expressed satisfaction over the facilities being offered at the place.

He, however, ordered the management to ban entry if buyers did not wear face mask and use hand sanitisers.

He directed the administration to ensure the provision of all facilities in the market including food outlets, tea stalls as well as vaccination and anti-tick spray for livestock in markets across the district.

Talking to newsmen on this occasion, Syed Yawar Abbas Bokhari said the Punjab government had sent a complete advisory for following Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in all cattle markets and directed commissioners and deputy commissioners to provide all kinds of necessary facilities to buyers and sellers.

He said the idea of setting up the markets was to protect animal vendors from the heavy fees they would have to pay market contractors and middlemen and that they could turn a real profit for the hard work they had put in rearing animals the entire year.

Published in Dawn, July 21st, 2021