Entry of vehicles loaded with sacrificial animals banned on motorways ahead of Eidul Azha

ISLAMABAD: The National Highway and Motorway Police (NHMP) has imposed a ban on the entry of vehicles loaded with sacrificial animals on motorways, according to an official statement released on Sunday. “Overloaded, unfit, and improperly loaded vehicles often lead to traffic congestion and serious road accidents,” the statement said. It added that such vehicles would be diverted to alternative routes. The statement said that several vehicles transporting animals had been involved in “serious accidents” in the past, resulting in significant loss of life and property. “Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police have also been requested to establish check posts near motorway entry points and cattle markets to ensure the effective implementation of these measures,” it said. The statement said the initiative had been taken to “ensure the safety, security, and convenience of commuters travelling on motorways during the Eidul Azha season”. The NHMP’s decision has come as the Reut-i-Hilal Committee is set to meet today for sighting the Zilhaj moon. Earlier this week, the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission forecast that Eidul Azha was expected to fall on May 27.