LAHORE: Most sacrificial animal markets, including the one at Shahpur Kanjran – the largest in Lahore -- organised by the divisional cattle market management company, started functioning on Sunday, attracting a considerable number of buyers.

However, some of the animal markets planned in the major cities of Punjab, including Lahore, by the respective divisional administrations or municipal/metropolitan corporations couldn’t be made operational reportedly due to administrative and logistical issues, while the officials believed such sale points would also go operational from Monday (today).

“In Lahore, the Shahpur Kanjran market has been made operational formally on Sunday, attracting animal buyers from various parts of the provincial capital,” Local Government & Community Development Department Secretary Noor Ul Amin Mengal told Dawn.

“Similarly, in other cities of the province, such markets have also started working under administrative supervision of the respective cattle market development and management companies — subsidiaries of the local government department,” he added.

According to a summary, all 104 cattle markets of Punjab, which have recently been auctioned for Rs4.0582 billion, have been converted into sacrificial animals’ mandis [markets]. These included four in Lahore division; one at Shahpur Kanjran and one each in the district of Kasur (at Pattoki), Sheikhupura and Nankana Sahib. Similarly, as many as 100 mandis also started functioning in other divisions, including 12 in Faisalabad, 16 each in Sahiwal and Bahawalpur, 15 in Multan, 18 in DG Khan, 10 in Sargodha, 6 in Gujranwala and seven in Rawalpindi division.

Those to be made operational from Monday (today) in Lahore, in addition to the aforementioned, include one at Wagah Zone near Lakhudair (Ring Road), followed by Nishtar Zone (Model Town tehsil) having three points – at LDA City Housing Scheme, Near Sidhar Village/Kahna Kacha and on Defence Road. The Gulberg Zone will have two sale points (N-Block, DHA Phase 9 Prism and Pine Avenue Road). One each point will be set up in Ravi and Data Ganj Bakhsh zones at Saggian and Hazrat Usman Ghani Road. Allama Iqbal Town will have two points -- at NFC Society and Manga/Raiwind road.

“Actually, the commissioner (MCL administrator) wanted all the 12 sale points to be operational in Lahore from July 3. One, which is operated by the cattle market management company was made operational [at Shahpur Kanjran] on Sunday. But, the remaining ones couldn’t be made operational by the respective zones or the local administrations due to various administrative and logistical issues,” said a spokesman for the Lahore commissioner.

On the other hand, a number of Lahorities reached the Shahpur sacrificial animals’ market on Sunday to buy animals of their choice. “It seems that we may not be able to buy a goat this Eid as the prices seem much higher this time,” Gulzar, a buyer, told Dawn. “A goat which was sold last year at Rs35,000 to 40,000 is now being sold for Rs50,000 to 60,000. The price seems too much since my income has already shrunk due to inflation and the sky-rocketing prices of commodities,” he explained.

Inam, another buyer, also complained that the price of a medium-size cow had increased by 30 percent to 40pc this year.

On the other hand, the sellers argue that prices of fodder and other in puts had also increased, pushing the animal prices up. “A healthy one-year old goat weighing 50kg costs us at least Rs45,000. So, in this situation, how can we sell it for Rs40,000,” Aslam, an animal trader argued.

Published in Dawn, July 5th, 2021