Cattle market contract auctioned for Rs89.5m

Official says Rs8.9m more offered as compared to last year

RAWALPINDI:

The contract to establish the garrison city’s largest cattle market at the intersection of the twin cities of Rawalpindi was awarded for Rs89.5 million on the third day of bidding on Thursday.

The Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) has auctioned the contract for the Bhatta Chowk Cattle Market well before Eidul Azha to prevent the sale of sacrificial animals in residential areas.

According to official sources, the contractor will also pay a 10% income tax. Last year, the said cattle market’s contract was auctioned for Rs86.6 million.

The auction process continued for three days and the highest bid was offered on the third day of the auction, they said. The cattle market will be established for 15 days and will remain open on Eid days at the junction of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

On Thursday, contractor Mudassar Shah and company made an offer of Rs89.5 million against the bid of Rs77.7 million offered by contractor Zabta Khan on the second day of bidding.

A committee formed by Cantonment Executive Officer Imran Gulzar under the chairmanship of Revenue Superintendent Rana Saleem awarded the contract for the cattle market, sources said. As per the contract, the contractor will be authorised to charge Rs3,000 for large animals and Rs2,000 for small ones brought to the market. The RCB will be authorised to charge Rs400 for large trolleys carrying animals from the market and Rs300 for small carts.

Around 15 borewells have been dug since last year to meet the water requirements of animals in the cattle market. Cleaning, lighting, and security will also be arranged in the cattle market, while a mobile veterinary hospital will also be established for the medical examination of animals with the support of the Livestock Department.

Revenue Superintendent Rana Saleem says the Bhata Chowk Cattle Market will be Rawalpindi's biggest market, in which sacrificial animals will be brought from all over the country.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 19^th, 2023.