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CM waives octroi on animals for Eid

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Abdullah Shah has suspended the provisions of Sindh Local Governent Ordinance relating to recovery of district council tax and KMC Octroi on animals till May 8 to ensure cheaper price of sacrificial animals for the Eid-ul-Azha.

The decision to this effect was taken at a meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister at his Sindh Assembly office here on Monday to review the law and order situation.

The Chief Minister pointed out that as a result of this step, not only the people will get sacrificial animals on cheaper price, the traders coming from remote areas would get some relief from hardships they face while bringing their animals to Karachi.

He said a committee headed by a Minister or Adviser will be set up to monitor the effective implementation of this decision and to ensure that animal traders are not subjected to any excesses in respect of collection of taxes.

Through another decision the Chief Minister ordered the enforcement of Illegal Arms Act, 1991 in Karachi Division immediately to make the city free from illegal arms. He said those surrendering arms to the government would be paid compensation.

The Chief Minister was informed that effective measures have been taken to control cases of car-lifting and some gangs involved in the crime had been busted in District South. Investigations in many cases were underway and the crime will be effectively contained in the near future.

It was further stated that security measures at public places had been tightened and scanning machines installed at important places.

The Chief Minister directed that till such time as the scanning machines are installed at strategic spots leading to Karachi, steps should be taken for detection of arms smuggling through checking of loaded goods at weighing-machines (Kantas) to ascertain difference of weight of the loaded trucks at the place of origin and at their destination.-APP