Sores of cattle vendors are seen selling sacrificial animals in the streets rather than at the six cattle markets set up in the city.
The government has established the sale points at Bishmillah Housing Scheme, GT Road, Kahna Kacha on Ferozepur Road, Bankers’ Society near Kamahan Interchange, Saggian Bridge, Bilal Town and on Jannat Road.
The city government says more than two million animals are sacrificed in Lahore on Eidul Azha.
According to city government officials The Express Tribune spoke to more than 1.5 million sacrificial animals have been brought to the markets this year. They said the number would be sufficient as the demand for animals was less this year because of high prices.
With only two days left before Eid, animal vendors said a lower number of buyers was visiting the markets than last year.
Some cattle vendors have set up sale points in Walton, Iqbal Town, Sabzazar, Daroghanwala and Tajpura.
Tufail Ali, a cattle dealer from Kot Radha Kishan, said the markets set up by the city government were packed with animals.
“The competition is fierce. I tried selling my animals there but could not get a reasonable price,” Ali told The Express Tribune.
He said he had left the market on Thursday and started selling animals in the streets around Wahdat Road.
“I have now sold half of the stock at a good price.”
Allah Ditta, another vendor, accused big vendors of forcing him out of one of the markets. “I was left with no option but to sell the cattle away from of these markets,” he said.
Zunair Mian, a prospective buyer at Saggian Bridge, said the prices were very high.
“A healthy billy goat costs over Rs30,000. I will again visit the market in a day or two as prices usually go down a day before Eid,” Mian said.
Tariq Zaman, staff officer to the district coordination officer, said the government would launch a crackdown on illegally set up animal markets points on Friday.
“We will clear the city of such markets by Saturday.”
He said 18 FIRs had been registered against those who had rented out their land for such markets.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 4th, 2014.
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