NoC mandatory: 259 entities allowed to collect hides in Rawalpindi

Rawalpindi: A total of 259 religious seminaries, organizations, NGOs, and skin purchasers have been granted permission to set up stalls for the collection of animal hides during the three days of Eidul Azha, while five applications were rejected, officials said.

To prevent banned outfits from participating in hide collection, the Punjab government has imposed a ban on collecting animal hides without prior approval. Only those groups that obtain a No Objection Certificate (NoC) from the district administration are permitted to operate. A notification to this effect has been issued to ensure compliance.

Deputy Commissioner Dr. Hassan Waqar Cheema said that 264 entities, including seminaries, trusts, NGOs, and skin buyers, submitted applications for NoCs. After vetting the applications through the Special Branch and the district intelligence committee, five applications were rejected, and 259 were approved.