KARACHI: Transformed into a muddy mess in the aftermath of the recent downpour, the city’s largest cattle market off the Superhighway is experiencing a decline in businesses these days, a visit to the facility showed on Wednesday.

Spread over 1,000 acres, the yearly market for sacrificial animals is organised by the Malir Cantonment Board.

More than 100,000 animals have so far arrived in the market where prices of animals are said to be high this year owing to an increase in taxes (imposed by the market administration), apart from other factors.

These animals, including a large number of camels, are brought mainly from the interior of Sindh and Punjab.

Prices of animals up; traders blame rise in taxes

The traders Dawn spoke to complained of an acute water shortage in the market and lack of support from the administration in handling the post-rain conditions.

“The water being provided to us for free is not sufficient at all for big animals while there are long queues at spots dedicated for selling water,” Hussain, a trader from Badin said, adding that most traders were working on a self-help basis and trying to remove rainwater from the space allotted to them.

Mohammad Farid, an animal trader from Bahawalpur, seemed equally worried. Venting his frustration, he said: “Nobody from the administration has even bothered to ask how we and our animals are surviving here. All our tents had fallen after the rain, which we ourselves have erected again.”

The market administration, he said, should speed up work and take measures for immediate rehabilitation.

According to him, there has been a drastic drop in customers, seriously affecting businesses. “You can see mud all over the place. How could anyone come here in these conditions and see our animals?” he said.

While there were no serious concerns regarding a disease outbreak following the rain as traders claimed to have brought vaccinated animals, there was shared concern regarding their reduced feed intake following the rain spell and subsequent loss of weight.

“Unlike buffaloes, cows and goats don’t like rainy weather and stop eating. On top of that, there is an acute water shortage in the market, which is extremely worrisome for traders of big animals,” another trader said.

According to traders, this year the tax for small and big animals has been increased from Rs500 to Rs800 and from Rs1,000 to Rs1,400, respectively. Prices for space and other facilities have also been raised.

When asked about it, traders blamed this price hike for the increase in animal prices.

A trader had to make up for the investment he had made in the animal and earn some profit at the end of the day, they argued.

When contacted, market administrator Syed Arshad Ahmed said the administration was working round the clock to improve sanitary conditions at the market.

“There have been water shortages but the problem, caused at the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board end, would be sorted out soon,” he said.

On increased taxes, he said this had been done after five years. “We were forced to do it because the relevant housing societies whose land is used for setting up the market have demanded more payment,” he said.

Published in Dawn, August 24th, 2017