Daily Times

KARACHI: The Karachi’s administration and police appear to have turned a blind eye to unauthorized cattle markets popped up in various parts of the city ahead of Eid-ul-Edha.

According to a survey conducted by Daily Times, there are more than 50 small illegal cattle markets on roadsides in different areas of the city. At one hand these cattle markets are creating gridlocks and health perils but on other hand the markets are also providing animals at reasonable prices as compared to those available in big markets.

An enormous area along the road has been occupied by sacrificial animal’s traders in Liaquatabad No 10. Similarly, at Landikotal, Ziauddin Hospital, Five Star Round about in Nazimabad, Gulshan-e-Iqbal Block-19, Serena Market in Buffer Zone, Ismail Goth in Landhi, North Nazimabad, Sir Shah Suleman Road in Essa Nagri Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Mehmoodabad, Orangi, Mosamiat, Safoora Chowrangi, Pehalwan Goth, Safari Park. Dau-Minute Chowrangi, Sindhi Hotel, Up Morr, old railway station in Karimabad, Noori Hotel, Quaidabad and other areas. These illegal market owners are accused of greasing palms of KMC officials and police to keep them away from the these makeshift markets.

An official of concerned department told that there are only seven official cattle markets in Karachi, Super Highway Sohrab Goth, Malir 15, Bahains Colony Landhi, Awami Maweshi Mundi-Gorra Qabristan, Essa Nagri, Defence Maweshi Mundi at Korangi Road and Mawach Goth.

Abdul Haq, a cattle dealer in Defence Maweshi Mundi at Korangi Road, told that small cattle markets are more profitable than the bigger ones because they have to bear less expenses. “Besides, I also don’t have to worry about competition and can easily attract enough number of customers, those who do not want to travel too far to buy sacrificial animals,” he added.

Faraz Ibrahim, one of the buyers at an unauthorized market at Ismail Goth, said that he was there to find out an animal at reasonable price. “This place is close to my house and the prices are also reasonable here. If I get a good deal, I would buy a cow”, he added.

The buyers benefit from these cattle markets to large extent as they are offering competitive rates for the animals. “The rates are flexible as compared to the Sohrab Goth Market,” said a buyer, Mian Usman.

The main markets is located far away from the city and millions of people are just flocking the markets for window shopping but these unauthorized markets offer competitive rates, he added.

“It is the responsibility of Karachi administration to eliminate these illegal markets”, said Salman, a buyer.

Published in Daily Times, August 21^1st 2017.