Eid cattle trade turns city roads into chaos

With Eidul Azha approaching, the buying and selling of sacrificial animals has begun in full swing across the city, but delays in setting up official cattle markets have pushed traders onto roadsides, turning major streets and intersections into makeshift livestock bazaars.

As a result, traffic flow has been severely disrupted, while heaps of waste and animal remains have further worsened sanitation conditions in several parts of the city.

With a week left until Eid, rising prices have already prompted citizens to start purchasing sacrificial animals. Many residents of Hyderabad are travelling to interior Sindh districts in search of cattle, while others continue searching locally according to their budget and preference.

However, instead of designated facilities, cattle traders have set up informal markets along highways, intersections, and neighbourhood streets. Areas including Godh Chowk, Latifabad Unit 8 Chowk, Unit 7 Central Road, Unit 10, Pakka Qila Chowk, Gado Chowk, multiple parts of Qasimabad, Phuleli, Paretabad, Sakhi Pir Chowk and Liaquat Colony have all reportedly been turned into temporary livestock sale points.

Every evening, traders gather with goats and other animals, tying them along roadsides and continuing sales directly on the streets. Commuters are often forced to stop their vehicles in the middle of the road to inquire about prices, further worsening traffic congestion across the city.

The presence of animals on roads, along with feed waste and manure, has significantly contributed to growing piles of garbage, creating serious difficulties for residents in commuting and daily movement.

According to sources, an official cattle market is held every Wednesday at Hatri Bypass under UC Hatri, where large and small animals are usually sold. However, the contract for this year's Eid cattle market has not yet been awarded. Similarly, official markets under the Hyderabad Municipal Corporation and Cantonment Board have also been delayed.

In the absence of regulated facilities, traders continue to operate on streets, while police at local stations are reportedly unable to take effective action.

Meanwhile, in areas such as Latifabad Unit 10 and Phuleli, private cattle farms and enclosures are also seeing large-scale movement of animals brought in from interior Sindh as well as cities including Multan, Bahawalpur and Gujranwala for sale.

Residents continue to move through crowded roads late into the night in search of suitable sacrificial animals, as Hyderabad's temporary roadside markets grow more congested by the day.