PESHAWAR/KARAK: The business of sacrificial animals is gradually picking up as the traders have started transporting their livestock from different villages and towns to the cattle markets in the provincial metropolis.

However, despite the tall claims of the government, the arrangements regarding anti-Congo spray at the animal markets are next to nil that negates a decision taken in a joint meeting of various departments only a few days ago.

It was observed on Monday morning that the animals are sprayed at only one gate while on the other the animals enter the market without being sprayed.

Unlike past, the business of buffalos, cow and oxen is slow as compared to that of goats, sheep and rams at the markets set up on Ring Road. The administration is yet to complete arrangements at the extended plot for accommodation of freshly arrived animals.

Anti-Congo spray arrangements at Peshawar cattle market not satisfactory

The vendors were seen selling their animals along the roadsides at different places on Ring Road, Peshtakhara and Sarband without any restrictions from the administration.

The dealers said that currently the market was slow mainly owing to ban on export of animal to Afghanistan.

Tahir Khan, a resident of Charsadda, said that rams and sheep were imported from Afghanistan in abundance but export of cows and oxen to the neighbouring country was not allowed. That’s why the prices were reasonable for the time being, he added.

“An increase of Rs5,000 to 10,000 has been noticed in the prices of every animal mainly due to devaluation of our currency,” said Mr Khan, adding despite that the prices were reasonable in Peshawar as compared to other cities.

Shayan, a cattle trader from Mianwali, said that soaring charges of transportation, shelter and fodder caused increase in the prices of animals. He also criticised police for teasing the traders by forcing them to pay bribes to them without any reason.

Besides, the contractor of the market has also increased fee of animals’ entry and exit from Rs25 to Rs50 and Rs800 to Rs1,000 respectively. He also blamed decrease in value of rupee for increase in prices of in animals.

Meanwhile, Peshawar district Nazim Mohammad Asim Khan in a circular to the deputy commissioner and town municipal officers has asked them to take action against the illegal cattle markets along the roads.

The district naizm said that the citizens were already complaining of hurdles in the smooth flow of traffic due to ongoing work on the Bus Rapid Transit project and cattle markets were further aggravating the situation.

In Karak, the prices of sacrificial animals have almost doubled at the weekly fairs ahead of Eidul Azha.

The local customers including Zafar Janan, Khalid Usman and Basheer Ahmad, who were in search of sacrificial animals at a local fair, fair said that the prices of sacrificial animals were too high. They added that they visited several weekly fairs but could not find a sacrificial animal at a reasonable price.

The local people criticised the district administration for its failure to keep check on the prices of animals.

They demanded of the administration officials to pay surprise visit to the weekly fairs to check the prices of animals.

However, Sadiq Khan and Shoaib Jan, two traders, said that they themselves bought animals at an exorbitant price.

They said they bought animals in Punjab and paid transportation charges, therefore, they could not sell animals at a low price.

Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2018