3 days ago
Korangi Road cattle market licence cancelled
The commissioner Karachi has cancelled the licence of a cattle market, established legally on Korangi Road, in compliance with the court orders. The decision causing significant concern among traders. The administration of the cattle market announced they would challenge the decision in Sindh High Court (SHC) on Thursday. They have appealed to the Chief Justice of the Sindh High Court to resolve the matter.
According to Korangi Cattle Market Administrator, Sardar Sohail, the market's licence was properly obtained through an official auction process under the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation. A payment of Rs7 million was made to KMC through a bid process to secure the permission. Commissioner Karachi had originally issued the market's operating licence on May 9 after all legal requirements were fulfilled based on reports from relevant authorities including KMC, the deputy commissioner of Korangi, police and other departments.
Korangi Road cattle market spans ten acres of land and currently hosts more than 250 traders and cattle farmers who have set up stalls to sell their livestock.
The market contains approximately 4,000 large and small animals and has developed into a temporary settlement complete with food stalls, online banking facilities, parking and other necessary facilities. In addition to local traders, more than 250 sellers from Punjab and various parts of Sindh have brought their animals to sell in the market, which supports the livelihoods of a number of families.
Traders have expressed deep concern following the sudden cancellation of market's licence by the commissioner's office, which cited court orders as the reason for revocation. They are now facing uncertainty about where to relocate their businesses and decided to approach the court on Thursday for resolution. The market has been serving residents of Korangi, Landhi, Defence, Mahmoodabad, Qayyumabad and surrounding areas, providing convenient access to buy sacrificial animals. Current prices start at Rs40,000 for goats and 150,000 for cows, making it an accessible option for middle-class buyers.
Meanwhile, the commissioner's office has approved a total of 14 cattle markets across Karachi this year. While citizens have been visiting the markets to purchase animals for Eidul Azha, many are finding the prices exorbitantly high.
