Cattle markets lack facilities

Confusion persists regarding tax on animals

LAHORE:

The authorities have begun setting up temporary cattle markets for Eidul Azha all over Punjab, but without basic facilities due to poor planning and lack of timely decision by the departments concerned.

The animals brought to some markets have been taxed, while in others the levy is being ignored to avoid complications.

According to traders of sacrificial animals, the metropolitan corporation has established cattle markets in Lahore without taxing animals, but also without providing the required facilities. There are no tents, lights, water or toilets, they complained while speaking to The Express Tribune.

However, the transportation of sacrificial animals from all over Punjab to Lahore continues.

Eight of the 10 temporary markets planned in Lahore have been set up, while two are yet to be established a day ahead of the deadline set by the government.

According to sources, the Lahore Metropolitan Corporation had sought Rs1.25 billion from the provincial local bodies department for setting up the markets. The local bodies in other districts had also demanded huge amounts to meet the expenses.

The Punjab Local Government Department refused to allocate the money. Following meetings with the commissioners, district and cattle market officials, a decision was taken after a considerable delay that the markets should be operated on a no profit, no loss basis.

However, the local governments were not properly conveyed the instructions with legal precedents about the decision to impose a tax on sacrificial animals and provide facilities with the money collected from under the head.

An official said the legal requirements could not be fulfilled before levying tax on the animals, nor could its amount be finalized, while the target of setting up the markets by June 18 was given.

A visit to the markets set up so far revealed that the Lahore Metropolitan Corporation had arranged power generators for limited lights with the help of contractors on a no profit, no loss basis but other facilities had not been provided and the roads leading to markets were dilapidated. They have no tents, toilets and provision for food and water.

The traders are living under the open sky.

In other districts of Punjab, the tax was not levied where the contractors received support from the district governments but the cattle markets could not be set up where there was no support from the municipal corporations.

The heads of several local bodies said they had not received written orders from the Punjab government and the local government secretary regarding how much tax was to be imposed on the animals.

On the other hand, the cantonment boards imposed a tax on the sacrificial animals through an advertisement issued in time. A tax of Rs1,000 will be charged on small animals and Rs2,000 on each big animal, and facilities will be provided from the income.

The markets in Lahore have been set up under the supervision of Commissioner Muhammad Ali Randhawa at Turkey Road, Lakho Der, Kahna Kacha Rao Chand Road, LDA Avenue, Pine Avenue, Barki Road, Paragon Society, near Manawan Hospital, NFC Society, Multan Road and Sunder Road.

The commissioner said in a meeting that no fee should be charged in the temporary cattle markets in Lahore.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 18^th, 2023.