
Capital to have five cattle markets for Eidul Azha
As Eidul Azha approaches, the district administration of Islamabad has decided that the unauthorised animal selling points will be shut down, and five official cattle markets will be established in different areas under clear rules.
The Islamabad administration has also launched a plan to manage cattle trade in the city. Meanwhile, the district administration has started cracking down on illegal animal sale points set up at various locations, said the ICT spokesperson.
In this regard, Islamabad Deputy Commissioner, Irfan Nawaz Memon, said that five official cattle markets will be established in different areas of the capital. These include Sangjhani, Sector I-15, Bharakahu, Lehtrar Road, and Islamabad Expressway. According to the deputy commissioner, tender notices for setting up these markets have already been issued. He said that the official markets will be opened from the 1st to the 13th of Zilhajj. No buying or selling of animals will be allowed before this period. Any cattle market outside the selected locations will be considered illegal.
Furthermore, teams have been formed to monitor illegal animal trading points. Action has already begun against unapproved sale stalls in different parts of the city. Officials said such setups often lead to sanitation problems, causing difficulty for residents. The official cattle markets will be equipped with basic facilities like water, electricity, and proper entry and exit points. Health teams will also be deployed to check the animals.
According to the deputy commissioner, the goal is to provide a controlled and safe environment for both sellers and buyers. The city's administration has also reached out to relevant departments, including the Metropolitan Corporation, police, and health services, to coordinate the arrangements. All stakeholders have been asked to work together to ensure the smooth running of these markets.
Meanwhile, the district administration urged the public to report any illegal cattle markets in their areas. A dedicated helpline and monitoring team will be available to address complaints. The administration has also requested citizens to avoid purchasing animals from unauthorised locations to support the organised setup.
In previous years, random animal sale points had caused several problems in urban areas, including piles of garbage, animal waste, and noise complaints. This year, the administration is aiming to avoid such situations by strictly controlling the sale process.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Express Tribune
8 hours ago
- Express Tribune
PM Shehbaz to visit UAE for high-level talks on June 12
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at Istanbul airport on Sunday, May 25, 2025. Photo: PID Listen to article Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif will undertake an official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Thursday, 12 June 2025. The visit highlights the deep-rooted fraternal relations between Pakistan and the UAE, built on mutual trust, shared values, and close cooperation in multiple sectors. The prime minister will be accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, federal ministers, and other senior officials. Read: PM Shehbaz 'ready for talks' with India on water, trade During the visit, Shehbaz will hold high-level engagements with the UAE leadership, including a bilateral meeting with the President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. According to the Foreign Office, a wide range of bilateral, regional, and global issues of mutual interest and concern will be discussed during the interactions. Read More: Pakistan, Azerbaijan reaffirm commitment to strategic partnership The visit aims to further deepen economic cooperation, strengthen political understanding, and foster multifaceted collaboration across sectors including trade, investment, energy, and labour. In a statement, the Foreign Office said the visit is a manifestation of Pakistan's and the UAE's shared commitment to enhancing their strategic partnership. Both sides are expected to explore new avenues for collaboration, while reinforcing their long-standing cordial ties. Shehbaz also held telephone conversations with several world leaders on the occasion of Eidul Azha. He reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to regional peace, unity within the Muslim Ummah, and stronger bilateral cooperation. The discussions served to extend festive greetings and promote shared values of solidarity and mutual respect among nations. Read More: Islamabad, Riyadh to further elevate strategic ties Earlier, Shehbaz undertook a two-day official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where he held talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The visit coincided with Eidul Azha and aimed to express Pakistan's appreciation for the Kingdom's constructive role in easing tensions between Pakistan and India during their recent conflict. The prime minister was accompanied by a high-level delegation, including senior ministers and officials, reflecting the importance Islamabad placed on the visit. In May, Shehbaz Sharif concluded a six-day tour of Turkiye, Iran, Azerbaijan, and Tajikistan. That tour was undertaken to consolidate regional ties and personally thank the leadership of those nations for their support during the crisis with India. Read More: Shehbaz, Erdogan vow to elevate 'strategic' ties The trip concluded in Tajikistan, where the prime minister participated in the International Conference on Glaciers in Dushanbe, reiterating Pakistan's commitment to regional cooperation on climate issues. Both diplomatic engagements were described by the Foreign Office as part of Pakistan's broader effort to bolster strategic partnerships, strengthen economic relations, and reinforce solidarity within the region.


Express Tribune
a day ago
- Express Tribune
Eid cattle sales now a middlemen's game
The sale of sacrificial animals has now become a fully commercial and highly profitable business, with the profits increasingly going to middlemen. Both the original owners of the animals — typically farmers and herders — and the end buyers incur losses. As a result, the demand for sacrificial animals continues to decline. According to contractors and livestock traders in Rawalpindi, this year saw a record 30% to 34% drop in the sale of sacrificial animals in the city. If a proper mechanism for the sale and purchase of sacrificial animals is not developed within the next two years, this decline could exceed 50%. A survey shows that immediately after Eidul Fitr, middlemen begin purchasing animals directly from villages through local agents. They pay in advance and transport the animals to their own farms, where they keep them for two months, set their own prices, and earn significant profits. When the moon of Eidul Azha is sighted, these animals are brought to the livestock markets. These middlemen buy animals at cheap rates directly from farmers and livestock owners, who barely make any profit. Meanwhile, consumers are forced to purchase the same animals at much higher prices. In addition, livestock markets have been fully commercialised. The market contractors, who often have no direct involvement with animals, win multimillion-rupee tenders from the municipal or district administration. They then rent out space in the market to livestock traders at rates ranging from Rs500,000 to Rs1 million per kanal for just 10 days. Other costs, such as electricity, water tankers, animal feed, tents for shade, and fans for ventilation, all add to the overall expense. An amount of Rs7,000 entry fee is also charged for a large animal and Rs4,000 for a smaller one. Loading and unloading charges are additional, and all of these expenses ultimately fall on the buyer. Previously, the original animal owners would sell their livestock directly in streets and local markets, with no market fees or middlemen involved. Now, however, what was once a religious tradition has been turned into a profit-driven industry by a growing mafia. Raja Khan, a contractor on High Court Road, explained that he rented one kanal of land for Rs800,000 for 10 days. Daily, he spent Rs3,500 on a water tanker, Rs10,000-15,000 on animal feed, and Rs2,000 on food for his three workers, who also bathed the animals to keep them cool in the summer heat. His electricity bill alone for 10 days was Rs100,000. Khan added even government and police officials didn't pay full price for animals. "Under such conditions, how can we sell animals at cheaper rates?" he said. "Every year, animal prices increase by Rs40,000 to Rs80,000. Within the next three to five years, sales may drop by 70%, and prices could rise by 50% to 70%." Contractor Irshad Abbasi says if market tender fees are abolished, animal prices could drop by 30% to 40% in a single day. He held the middlemen and administration responsible for the rising prices, adding: "When livestock markets are auctioned for Rs150 million to Rs180m, how can animals be sold cheaply?" This year, even on the eve of Eid, sales remained sluggish. By 9pm on Chand Raat, the market had essentially collapsed. Prices were reduced by up to 30%, but most genuine buyers had already left. As a result, many animals went unsold. Some were purchased by butchers at the last moment. Those who came after 9pm were able to buy good animals at 30% to 40% lower prices. Another major reason for the decline in sacrificial activity is the Rs 20,000 slaughtering fee for cows and bulls.


Express Tribune
a day ago
- Express Tribune
Sanitary workers demand additional salary
Workers of Lahore Waste Management Company busy in removing the garbage as Punjab government launched modern and organized system of cleanliness in the Provincial Capital City with the collaboration of Turk companies. PHOTO: APP At least 11,687 workers of Rawalpindi Waste Management Company (RWMC) who collected 20,000 tons of garbage from 22 tehsils of Rawalpindi Division during the three days of Eidul Azha have demanded a full additional salary instead of accepting Rs 10,000 each as honoraria for their services like the last three years. The RWMC Labour Union (CBA) has demanded an additional salary instead of Rs10,000 as a reward for the company's employees in Rawalpindi in a letter addressed to Punjab Chief Minister. CBA Union President Raja Haroon Rasheed says that the workers have established an exemplary cleaning system for three days in the scorching heat, giving Rawalpindi an edge in this regard. The President of the CBA Union has said in a letter to the Chief Minister of Punjab that you have announced a reward of Rs10,000 to motivate the employees of the Waste Management Company.