Economic activity involving millions of rupees is all set to go in the sale and purchase of sacrificial animals' hides during the three Eid holidays in the provincial metropolis. The merchants have made special arrangements for purchase of hides, and in this regard they have also set up stalls in the areas including Ichra, Mozang, Iqbal Town, Baghbanpura, Chamra Mandi, Walton and Multan road etc.
Like previous years, a race is on between various charitable organisations and trusts for collection of hides of animals on Eid days. Apart from them, different people including Imams of mosques also used to collect hides to sell them to leather traders for a hefty amount.
Shaukat Khanum Cancer Trust Hospital, Khidmat Foundation of Jamaat-i-Islami, Sahara Trust, Minhaj ul Quran Welfare Society, Fatmid Foundation and various other local organisations have established its stalls in various areas of the provincial metropolis for the collection of hides.
Banners of various charitable organisations have also been displayed in the city, urging the citizens to donate hides. The competition is so intense that they are even knocking the doors of faithfuls and asking them to donate hides.
Moreover, medical experts including Professor Dr Khalid Masood Gondal of Mayo Hospital Lahore and Dr Sheharyar Bhatti have advised the people fulfilling the religious obligation of animal sacrifice, to be careful about preservation and consumption of meat.
Mentioning the existence of wide range of bacteria in local atmosphere, they said the people must ensure that flesh of animals slaughtered at varied roadsides and thoroughfares are adequately preserved without any unnecessary delay.
'People must ensure that meat is necessarily frozen or refrigerated below minus one degree after necessary pruning and washing, within six hours of animals being slaughtered', they said.
They were of the view that traditional modes of preservation as application of citric acid and salt could also help ensuring proper cleanliness. They warned that any particular food must not be heated more than twice for consumption, as otherwise its quality could be damaged. They said the frozen food must be consumed within one month, as frequent power failures could affect the preserved meat or items prepared of it.
They also referred to the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendation, according to which, red meat must not be consumed in 'excessive quantity' and that adults must not take red meat more than twice a week. They advised the diabetic patients or those suffering from kidney ailments or hypertension should not consume the flesh of cow and buffalo, as these contain high level of cholesterol and uric acid.
They advised the people facing the problems of gastro-enteritis, ulcer, hypertension, acidity, and joint pains to avoid use of beef. They also cautioned people against the trend of barbecue, as according to them such food is generally noticed as half-cooked. Since this half-cooked food could not be digested, serious repercussions were noticed, they said.
Meanwhile, the City District Government (CDG) Lahore has chalked out elaborate arrangements for keeping the city neat and clean during the Eid holidays. The staff of the Solid Waste Department of the CDG has been deputed for disposing off offal, intestines and other waste of sacrificial animals from various parts of the city. In this regard, polythene bags were also distributed to the Union Councils for onward distribution among its respective residents.
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