The District Coordination Officer (DCO), Javed Hanif, has ordered postponement of the collection of Rs50 per animal at the time of their entry in the city for 45 days. The decision was announced on Wednesday.

The concerned authority was collecting the said amount for issuing health certificates for the animals but the merchants claimed that the imposition of tax was an injustice to them.

The DCO also assured the delegation of the meat merchants that the tax would be withdrawn soon and on a permanent basis. He added that a resolution would be floated in the City Council to permanently remove the tax.

The DCO also said that Rs150 would only be collected from owners of animals brought to the cattle pens for milking purposes and the animals brought for slaughter would not pay that amount.

The check post located at Nooriabad on the Super Highway would be shifted within the limits of Karachi, he further said. The representatives of meat merchants announced opening of their shops for 45 days but threatened to once again go on strike in case the tax was not removed permanently.