Capital's Rural Dwellers Interests Compromised Due To Ban On Local Cattle Markets

Local vendors Friday demanded of more cattle markets in the federal capital, voicing their concern over the financial losses incurred due to imposition of section 144, restricting sale and purchase of sacrificial animals only to one designated market in 1-12 sector.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Aug, 2018 ) :Local vendors Friday demanded of more cattle markets in the Federal capital, voicing their concern over the financial losses incurred due to imposition of section 144, restricting sale and purchase of sacrificial animals only to one designated market in 1-12 sector.

Over 40 per cent of the local traders from rural areas of Islamabad, making some 50.57 percent of the capital's total population of around two million, are associated with the cattle farming business.

They said every year four local cattle markets are allowed in different areas of the city and they wait a whole year to get reward of their labour but unfortunately high taxes, transportation and cost of fodder to animal has just made it impossible to earn any profit.

The markets in Rawat, Bhara Kahu, Tramri and Sarai Kharbooza could not be made operational where majority of local traders' animal are brought every year accommodating local sellers and buyers.

A vendor form Shehzad Town, Chaudhry Liaqut said that he had been doing the cattle farming for the last 10 years and earned decent profit at Eid-ul-Azha but this year, "I am not allowed by the area police to sell my animal even at my owned farm house". Police has a justification of section 144, he added.

He said over last ten years he used to take his animals to nearby Taramri Chowk cattle market and he cannot afford to take dozens of his livestock to 1-12 market as it costs heavy amount.

Liaqut said, entry fee, transportation, animal fodder and his workers daily cost of living was a reason of high prices in the market. He demanded City Administration to review the decision and allow local cattle markets for the ease of traders and buyers.

A local vendor at 1-12 cattle market Raja Kala Khan said for a two weeks stay here a cow's expenditure costs him Rs 10,000 while Rs 5,000 are incurred on a small goat. "What a trader will earn due to this heavy cost only for a living," he questioned..

Sibtain, a buyer who came here from Rawat told APP that he traveled 29 km to buy a sheep and manged to purchase it in Rs 30,000 after a marathon bargaining. "Now I'm being demanded Rs 2500-3000 as transportation charges to take it home" he added.

It is pertinent to mention here that the District Magistrate Islamabad on August 03 has issued directives to the departments concerned to take strict action against those selling animals other then the designated market of 1-12 creating difficulties for the people of far flung rural areas.