From cash-filled hands to digital taps, cattle markets are undergoing a quiet transformation this Eidul Azha as mobile wallets, banking apps, and QR codes take over everyday transactions for livestock and services, ensuring faster, safer trade while integrating rural communities into formal finance during the peak season of sacrificial animal buying and selling.
Many customers and sellers, as seen in media footage from bustling cattle markets, are increasingly showing interest in online transactions instead of the old tradition of handling cash, which was neither secure nor practical for carrying large amounts.
This year, the trend has taken a strong shift toward cashless payments, with billions of rupees in livestock trade reportedly flowing through digital channels, marking a clear boom in financial technology use during the season, as the trend is booming and proving easy, secure and convenient for both buyers and sellers, said a citizen.
An elderly visitor at the Rawalpindi cattle market also appreciated this growing trend, saying that earlier it was difficult and time-consuming to carry and handle large amounts of cash, but now the process has become much easier and more convenient with digital payment options.
Shoppers and traders in livestock markets from Islamabad to Lahore are now turning toward mobile-based payments, as digital systems continue to expand across major cities, enabling faster and more organized transactions that reduce the risks of carrying large sums of cash while making buying and selling more efficient for all participants.
According to Asad Sheikh, spokesperson for the Punjab cattle market, over 1 billion rupees worth of transactions were carried out online within just 15 days, highlighting how quickly the shift toward digital trade is growing.
He noted that the trend is not only easy and safe but also strongly supported by the presence of banks and dedicated online transaction stalls within cattle markets.
On the other side, buyers of sacrificial animals have also welcomed the shift, saying that digital payment options have made the entire process more convenient and secure.
Many shared that even payments for animal ornaments and advance bookings for butchers are now being made through mobile wallets and QR codes, reducing the need to carry cash in crowded markets and making transactions quicker and more organized.
Citizens further appreciated the government’s initiative of introducing QR code facilities and banking stalls in cattle markets, stating that these arrangements have made buying and selling easier for both parties.
They added that the system not only saves time but also builds trust, as payments are recorded and disputes are minimized in the busy Eidul Azha season.
A seller said that earlier it was difficult and risky to handle large amounts of cash in hand, especially with fear of theft during busy market days, but now the situation has improved significantly as digital payments have made transactions safer and more secure while also saving time during the peak trading hours.
Overall, the country is witnessing a clear shift toward online and cashless trade, especially in cattle markets where digital payments are rapidly replacing traditional cash dealings.
This transformation is not only making transactions more secure and efficient but also strengthening transparency and financial inclusion, marking a significant step toward a more modern and digitally driven economy.