Of rituals and celebrations: With 76,000 cows and 6,000 goats, cattle market is open for business
The market has car parking, medical camps, veterinary doctors, fire stations and an ATM.
As the festival of Eidul Azha nears, children are standing among goats and cows that are on sale at the Sohrab Goth cattle market, which opened for business officially on Wednesday. PHOTO: MOHAMMAD NOMAN/EXPRESS
KARACHI:
Nearly 76,000 cows and 6,000 goats have made their way to the city’s largest cattle market on Super Highway and it is officially open for business.
The market is set up every year ahead of Eidul Azha by the Malir Cantonment and the Sohrab Goth administration. Residents from all neighbourhoods of Karachi make their way to these markets every year to buy sacrificial animals.
When you enter the market, there are tents near the entrance that can only be described as bridal boutiques. These three blocks, out of a total of 21 blocks in the entire market, are decked up with decorative light and animals adorned with shimmery garlands, colourful headdresses and tinkling bells.
The traders who are lucky enough to get spots in these three blocks are demanding prices to match their special spot. They justified the prices by explaining that some of these animals are imported from across the world and others from different parts of the country.
“This is Asia’s largest cattle market,” Sohrab Goth Market administrator Shahab Ali claimed in a sweeping manner. “Hundreds and thousands of animals are bought and sold here nearly every day.”
A short walk ahead of the VIP tents are the enclosures where most of the city’s residents buy their animals from. “It is becoming harder to buy sacrificial animals as prices have gone up by at least 60 per cent since last Eid,” pointed out a resident of North Nazimabad, Mrs Rashid, as she roamed around with her son and grandsons. “Most people are now going for shares in one animal instead of buying the whole animal for themselves.”
Even the administrator agreed that inflation has shot up prices very drastically. “A normal-sized cow, which could be bought for Rs25,000 last year, now costs Rs40,000,” said Ali. The price of a goat has also gone up from Rs12,000 to Rs15,000.
Spread over 700 acres, the Sohrab Goth cattle market includes car parking and makeshift stalls selling mineral water bottles. It also has a complaint centre, a fire station, ATM facility, medical camp for buyers, ambulance service, free toilets. A team of veterinary doctors are also available on site.
“The buyers can also consult the doctors without any charge if they are suspicious about the animals’ health,” the administrator informed this reporter. He added that a large number of CCTV cameras have been installed, along with private security guards and police personnel in plainclothes. “We have established a helpline at 021-35410755 so that any untoward incident can be reported,” he said, adding that no incident has been reported so far.
A resident of Liaquatabad, Abdul Samad, did have some complaints about the administration. “They have established very few medical camps in such a huge market so most buyers cannot be treated promptly,” he said.
The market sees major rush in the evenings when most families come, especially to check out the new arrivals in the VIP tent.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 4th, 2013.
Nearly 76,000 cows and 6,000 goats have made their way to the city’s largest cattle market on Super Highway and it is officially open for business.
The market is set up every year ahead of Eidul Azha by the Malir Cantonment and the Sohrab Goth administration. Residents from all neighbourhoods of Karachi make their way to these markets every year to buy sacrificial animals.
When you enter the market, there are tents near the entrance that can only be described as bridal boutiques. These three blocks, out of a total of 21 blocks in the entire market, are decked up with decorative light and animals adorned with shimmery garlands, colourful headdresses and tinkling bells.
The traders who are lucky enough to get spots in these three blocks are demanding prices to match their special spot. They justified the prices by explaining that some of these animals are imported from across the world and others from different parts of the country.
“This is Asia’s largest cattle market,” Sohrab Goth Market administrator Shahab Ali claimed in a sweeping manner. “Hundreds and thousands of animals are bought and sold here nearly every day.”
A short walk ahead of the VIP tents are the enclosures where most of the city’s residents buy their animals from. “It is becoming harder to buy sacrificial animals as prices have gone up by at least 60 per cent since last Eid,” pointed out a resident of North Nazimabad, Mrs Rashid, as she roamed around with her son and grandsons. “Most people are now going for shares in one animal instead of buying the whole animal for themselves.”
Even the administrator agreed that inflation has shot up prices very drastically. “A normal-sized cow, which could be bought for Rs25,000 last year, now costs Rs40,000,” said Ali. The price of a goat has also gone up from Rs12,000 to Rs15,000.
Spread over 700 acres, the Sohrab Goth cattle market includes car parking and makeshift stalls selling mineral water bottles. It also has a complaint centre, a fire station, ATM facility, medical camp for buyers, ambulance service, free toilets. A team of veterinary doctors are also available on site.
“The buyers can also consult the doctors without any charge if they are suspicious about the animals’ health,” the administrator informed this reporter. He added that a large number of CCTV cameras have been installed, along with private security guards and police personnel in plainclothes. “We have established a helpline at 021-35410755 so that any untoward incident can be reported,” he said, adding that no incident has been reported so far.
A resident of Liaquatabad, Abdul Samad, did have some complaints about the administration. “They have established very few medical camps in such a huge market so most buyers cannot be treated promptly,” he said.
The market sees major rush in the evenings when most families come, especially to check out the new arrivals in the VIP tent.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 4th, 2013.