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Awwe soooooooooooo cute!
On Sundays, when usually the commercial hubs of the city take a break after a hectic activity during the week, the place beneath the Liaquatabad flyover turns into a makeshift paradise for bird and animal lovers.
Caged birds of all sorts of species and sizes could be seen waiting for the buyers on the pavement. Be it flocks of ducks, chickens, parrots or innocent-looking pigeons, sand grouse and partridges, one can find a large variety of birds in what is commonly known as janwaron ka Itwar bazaar.
The presence of nomad women clad in their traditional colourful dresses gives the place a unique colour and ambience. While bird lovers could be seen striking deals with bird sellers on the pavement, a wider space is reserved for the herds of goats and sheep. A separate portion is usually occupied by the black goats meant for Sadqa.
It is not only the birds and four-legged creatures for sale, but people having a passion for keeping tropical fish as pets can also find different species.
Amazingly, when and how this place developed into a makeshift bird and animal market, is still a mystery. Many people believe that in 1970s the place was used as a point for selling goats and eventually it turned into a weekly makeshift market for animal and bird trade.
Now the market has all sorts of animals and birds, but pigeons are the main feature. Pigeon lovers and those involved in pigeon-flying are frequent visitors. The prices of pigeons depend on the specie. Those who fly higher and stay longer in the air fetch a better price. The buyers don’t have to worry about the feed as the market also offers medicines and bird-feed by pushcart vendors.
While pigeons and parrots are common feature, one can find partridges of rare species, for example black partridge — a beautiful bird with a shining black plumage with brown spots — could be bought for Rs1,200 to 1,500. Although dogs and monkeys are not a regular feature at Liaquatabad market, they could be seen occasionally for sale.
Small and colourful parrots, commonly known as Australian parrots or love birds, are the most profitable commodity. There are many people who have large cages at their houses full of Australian parrots; they breed them for commercial purpose, and on Sundays sell them out in the market.
While the market is frequented by all and sundry, some kind-hearted people also visit the place to buy and release the birds from captivity. Sadly, their generosity proves fatal as the released birds, which have lost the art of flying during their captivity, become an easy prey for eagles and crows. Freedom often becomes death for these birds as long captivity damages their instincts.
The adjacent street is occupied by fish sellers. Aquariums along with its accessories such as electric showers, filters, coloured stones, wooden pieces, fish feed and medicine could be seen on display. Aquarium lovers can even place orders according to their own requirements and designs. Some permanent shops on both sides of the street remain in this business on rest of the week-days too but on Sunday they place their aquarium and other accessories on the pavement in front of their shops. Some of the fish are imported, but a majority of them are locally-bred, Gold fish, Blackmole, Fighter, Angel and Guppy are always in demand by the fish lovers.
Like Liaquatabad, Lyari and Empress Market in Saddar are also famous for their animal markets. Unlike Empress Market, Lyari and Liaquatabad animal markets doesn’t have any regular pet shops. But on Sundays people throng Liaquatabad to either buy or sell their animals or birds.
Lyari has a smaller market, having only parrots, sand grouse, hens, and chickens on sale. Roosters are a salient feature of this market, which is mostly frequented by those who love to indulge in rooster fights.
Empress Market is a permanent pet market, but business is at its peak on Sundays when pavements are also occupied by those selling dogs, cats and other animals. The market even offers birds banned for sale such as hawks and falcons which could be bought on “reasonable” prices.
A vast variety of dogs are also visible here. Shop-owners claim that they have pure breed German Shepherd. But experts are doubtful about their claims. However, Empress Market has a reputation for its dog market as the only market with so many shops in town.
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