SWABI: Cattle markets were set up at village level across the Swabi district on Saturday to enable the faithful to buy sacrificial animals of their choice.

Tehsil municipal administration officials said there was no tax on such markets like the regular weekly animal fairs.

However, visitors to the cattle market set up in Shahmansoor complained about high prices of sacrificial animals, making it difficult for them to purchase an animal for sacrifice. They said prices of animals had almost doubled since the last year.

Aamir Khan of Swabi city said due to high prices of animals it was not even possible for him to have a share in a sacrificial animal. “Amid high inflation, it is not possible for me to arrange for Rs40,000 for the purpose.”

The visitors to the cattle markets said buying sacrificial animals had gone out of the reach of the lower-middle classes.

They said there was no check on spiraling prices of cattle by the district administration.

ARRESTED: The police on Saturday arrested a thief and recovered 18 stolen gearboxes of vehicles from him.

A week ago, Amjid Ali, a resident of Tarakai village, had got registered an FIR with in Kalu Khan police

station, stating unidentified thieves had broken the locks of his shop during the night and took away 18 gearboxes.

The police arrested the thief, Anwar Ali, belonging to Rawalpindi, who confessed to stealing the same.

MEETING: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa additional general secretary Dildar Khan met party’s supremo Nawaz Sharif in London on Saturday.

Talking to Dawn on phone, he said he enquired about Mr Sharif and lauded his family’s sacrifices for the country’s development.

Dildar Khan said he drew Mr Sharif’s attention towards the frustration of party workers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, demanding that the province in general and Swabi district in particular should be given priority in development projects.

He said Mr Sharif assured him of removing grievances of party leaders and workers.

Published in Dawn, June 25th, 2023