Cattle market contract made non-transferable

Sacrificial animals market set up at Bhatta ground

RAWALPINDI:

The largest cattle market of the twin cities has been set up at Bhatta ground located at the junction of the twin cities. All in all, 15 contractors took part in the bidding process which was awarded to Mustafa Baloch who hails from Taunsa Sharif for Rs70 million, sources told The Express Tribune.

In the tender process this year, the bid-winning contractor cannot sell the tender to another party as happened last year. It was learnt that the successful contractor was made an offer of Rs80 million by a group of contractors but he declined.

Last year, the contract for the cattle market was awarded for Rs7 million which the contractor transferred to a private party for Rs60 million and the private party recovered Rs230 million from the contract.

This year, Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) Chief Executive Officer Umar Farooq Ali has inserted a clause in the agreement that puts a stop to the practice while teams of the RCB would ensure it is enforced.

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The cattle market has been set up at Bhatta Ground in Rawalpindi, which is the biggest marketplace of the twin cities. The temporary market has been named 'Mela Mandi Maweshiyan'. The market has been set up at the junction of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, which is connected to all traffic routes of the twin cities, a spokesperson said.

The city administration will ensure that all animals available for sale in the market are healthy, the official maintained, adding that facilities such as water and fodder for animals, boring and bank counters have been provided in the market. A security system has also been installed for the duration.

Vendors will pay Rs3,000 per head for large sacrificial animals and Rs2,000 per head for small sacrificial animals to set up stalls in the market, he added.

Contractor Mustafa Baloch said they would provide all facilities to the cattle sellers who bring their animals to the market. Regarding the contract, he said that he had deposited 50 per cent of the amount with the cantonment board while the remaining amount would soon be deposited as per the terms of the contract.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 28^th, 2021.