Rawalpindi neighbourhoods being polluted by illegal cattle markets

Sacrificial animals risk spread of contagious Crimean-Congo fever.

ISLAMABAD: Unaware of the fact that he is violating a ban placed by the city administration on setting up cattle markets in certain areas, Mohammad Aftab, sits amid his herd of sacrificial animals in Rawalpindi’s Bagh-e-Sardaran. For the last ten days, Aftab, who hails from Mardan, was roaming in the streets of Rawalpindi looking for potential customers.

During Aftab’s ten-day trip around Rawalpindi, not a single city official stopped him to make him to go to the designated cattle market set up by the city district government for the sale of sacrificial animals.

“I find this place much more suitable for selling my flock as it is located in the heart of the city,” said Aftab while gently petting an animal which was covered with dust.

He seemed least concerned about the risk of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) — a contagious disease caused by infected ticks, which according to the Weekly Epidemiological Bulletin complied by the World Health Organisation, has infected 48 people and claimed 15 lives across the country in 2013. The National Institute of Health (NIH) has also issued an alert to all concerned departments to take preventive measures to avoid the spread of CCHF in the country before and after Eidul Azha.



“I have never even heard the name of this disease. Also, I believe that sacrificial animals are blessed and cannot cause anyone harm. Moreover, I have bathed them in a stream on the Islamabad’s outskirts,” said Aftab.

Babar, a shepherd at an illegal cattle market set up at Block-F of Satellite Town, came from Fatehjang a few days ago. He also found the area an ideal place to sell animals as it also helps him avoid paying the fee to set up shop at the city’s official cattle market. Additionally, he feels that in a residential area, he will be able to get customers throughout the day.

However, Babar said various officials of the municipal administration had come to fine him for selling cattle without prior permission. “I do not understand why they won’t let me make a living in peace. I am already worried as people are not buying animals due to the high prices,” he said.

Babar was also unconcerned about his animals potentially spreading a deadly disease and was more concerned with increasing sales.



Meanwhile, the area has no warning signs to create awareness about CCHF and what precautionary measures to take while handling sacrificial animals.

Similarly, the presence of animals has made life difficult for local residents as the foul odour from the makeshift market has enveloped the area.

Fareeha, who has been residing in the area for over fifteen years, is uncomfortable with the presence of the cattle market nearby.

“We feel insecure as a lot of new faces show up here and the area becomes dirty and smelly because of the market. It also becomes difficult to keep the children away from the animals as they are an unusual sight. I fail to understand why the government has allowed this in residential areas,” she said.

Rawalpindi District Coordination Officer Sajid Zafar said the Rawal Town Municipal Administration is responsible for taking action against such illegal cattle markets and the Livestock and Dairy Development Department has established entry points at these markets where they are disinfecting animals.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 14^th, 2013.