RAWALPINDI: Cattle markets have been set up in various parts of the city as Eidul Azha nears, despite a ban on makeshift cattle pens in city areas imposed by the City District Government Rawalpindi (CDGR).

The CDGR has allocated nine locations outside the city within the Potohar Town area for cattle markets.

However, a visit to various localities in Rawalpindi on Friday revealed many markets offering sacrificial sheep, goats, cows and even bulls. Many people were also seen roaming the streets selling their animals.

Makeshift cattle pens have been set up at Banni Chowk, near the local police station, Jamia Masjid Road, Khayaban-i-Sir Syed, Adiala Road, Bakri Chowk, Dhoke Hassu, Ghazni Road, Pirwadhai and the area along I.J. Principal Road. Sellers were also seen roaming other localities with animals.

The price of sacrificial animals has also increased, and many people are choosing to share sacrificial cows or bulls rather than buying a goat or sheep themselves.

Kartarpura resident Tanveer Ahmed said he bought a bull from Banni Chowk for Rs82,000. He said five people will share the bull, as a goat or sheep is priced at Rs35,000, at least.

Visit to various localities reveals makeshift cattle pens within the city

He said he bought the bull from a seller while roaming around Saidpur Road, adding that there was no ban on vendors establishing makeshift pens. Mr Ahmed said there were no police of Town Municipal Administration (TMA) officials checking sellers roaming around the city.

Another local resident, Abdul Rashid from Usmanpura, said most people prefer buying animals from vendors who roam around the city, in order to save on transport costs from designated markets outside the city.

He added that rumours about the spread of the Congo virus caused some people to avoid cattle markets in nearby towns and villages. On previous Eids, people would visit nearby areas for cheaper animals, but Mr Rashid said the situation was different this year.

Mohammad Shahzad, a Satellite Town resident, said vendors had set up cattle pens along public parks, and were selling animals at higher rates claiming they had the animals vaccinated before entering the city to prevent the spread of Congo fever.

He claimed the prices of sacrificial animals would rise until Monday due to demand, and then fall gradually as sellers will find it difficult to keep the animals in the hot weather.

When contacted, District Coordination Officer Talat Mehmood Gondal said the government has banned the sale of sacrificial animals in the city areas, and nine designated cattle markets have been allocated outside the city.

Mr Gondal said he has directed enforcement officials to ensure the ban on cattle markets in the city is implemented, to prevent the spread of Congo fever before and after Eid. He added that animals are also checked before entering the district.

He said Rawal Town Municipal Administration officials are conducting surprise visits to various areas, and have confiscated animals belonging to vendors who set up makeshift pens in the city.

He added that the Rawalpindi Municipal Waste Company has been directed to ensure cleanliness before and during Eid, and people should be told to dump animal waste at the designated sites so waste can be lifted immediately and transported out of the city.

Published in Dawn September 10th, 2016