KARACHI, June 6: A weekly bird bazaar, which is being held for the past many years near the Sindh Government Hospital, has been banned by the Liaquatabad town administration keeping in view the hardship caused to the residents, commuters and patients.

The bazaar was held every Sunday under the Liaquatabad flyover, where birds, animals and fish were sold, including rare birds, the buying or selling of which is illegal. All sorts of birds, locked up in steel cages, were placed on the pavement to attract buyers. These included flocks of ducks, chickens, parrots, pigeons, sand grouse and partridges.

Goats and sheep were also available in the bazaar, while black goats meant for sadaqa were kept in a separate portion. Veterinary medicines and bird-feed was also available in the bazaar, sold by pushcart vendors.

Explaining the reasons behind the ban, Town Nazim Osama Qadri told Dawn that due to the rush of visitors and presence of steel cages on the pavements, the main road, service lanes, and the front entrance of the hospital was blocked every Sunday.

This caused an immense inconvenience to the patients as ambulances had been trapped several times in the traffic mess outside the hospital.

He said that no permission had ever been issued to any group or individual for holding the weekly bird bazaar.

“We received a number of complaints from residents who demanded that the bazaar be stopped. Last Sunday we took action against the bazaar in cooperation with the city government. Now, through banners, we have warned all bird-sellers not to come here again, otherwise we will take stern legal action against them,” the town nazim said.

He said that the violators of the ban would be arrested while their birds and cages would be impounded.