SWABI: The district administration has failed to curb Illegal cattle markets of sacrificial animals in Swabi.

At a meeting held here, the deputy commissioner had issued instructions to administrative officers to ensure strict implementation of the government policy that sacrificial animals would only be sold and purchased at sanctioned fairs and no unauthorised cattle market would be allowed across the district.

However, the illegal markets have not only deprived the government exchequer of income but they have also troubled the people.

Hundreds of thousands of sacrificial animals have been brought here from Punjab and Sindh by the cattle traders.

Illegal cattle market have sprung up in Baja village, Bamkhel, Saleem Khan, Gohati, Chota Lahor, Kalu Khan, Adina, Ismailia, Charbagh, Mansafdar, Maneri, Tarakai, Yar Hussain, Yaqoubi, Doubian, Topi, Kotha, Maini, Utla, Jalsai, Beka, Marghuz, Shahmansoor, Panjpir and in different areas of Gadoon Amazai region.

Mohammad Zahid, a resident of Bamkhel, complained that sale and purchase of sacrificial animals near the banks of Pehur canal continued without any check. He said there was no mechanism to remove the animal waste from around the canal.

When contacted, an official of the district administration told Dawn that they had chalked out a strategy to take action against illegal cattle fairs. “We would regulate the market activities and the illegal fair organisers would face action,” he said.

PROTEST: Residents of Anbar village of Chota Lahor tehsil and its suburbs on Saturday closed the Swabi-Jahangira Road to traffic in protest against suspension of electric supply for last four days.

Announcements were made on mosque loudspeakers, urging people to block the road in protest against Peshawar Electric Supply Company for its failure to restore power supply, which was disrupted after a thunderstorm uprooted polls, severing transmission lines. The protesters raised slogans against Pesco.

Published in Dawn, June 4th, 2025