Eidul Azha: Poor services in KP cattle markets irk people
PESHAWAR, (APP): With just a day left before Eidul Azha celebrations, the hustle and bustle in cattle markets across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has reached its peak.
However, inadequate shelter, tents, and water facilities in these markets have left many buyers frustrated and disappointed in Khyber Pakthunkhwa.
Cattle markets in Peshawar, Charsadda, Swabi, Khyber and Nowshera districts are seeing heavy footfall as residents rush to purchase sacrificial animals. Yet, the absence of basic amenities such as washrooms, drinking water, shaded areas, and sanitation services has drawn public ire.
“I visited the Ring Road cattle market in Peshawar in search of a suitable animal, but returned without buying due to the intense heat and lack of basic facilities besides high prices,” said Fayaz Khan, a resident of Pabbi tehsil of Nowshera. “My son fainted due to heatstroke, and shockingly, there was no medical assistance available there.” “I am going for online cattle shopping due to lack of services in cattle markets.”
Fayaz Khan criticized the Tehsil Municipal Administrations (TMAs) and private contractors for collecting large sums from buyers and sellers without providing essential services to them.
In Pabbi, another buyer, Zeeshan Khan, was seen wiping sweat from his brow as he haggled with cattle traders. “I came from Babi Jadeed hoping to buy a goat or sheep within my budget, but prices have skyrocketed compared to last year besides poor services that displeased many like him,” he lamented. “I’m now considering collective Qurbani with neighbours instead.”
He also expressed concern over poor sanitation, unclean drinking water, and substandard food and beverage stalls at the markets. “It’s a health hazard. I spent the entire day trying to find an affordable animal but returned disappointed.”
Buyers like Fayaz and Zeeshan are calling on the KP government to regulate animal prices and ensure the presence of price magistrates and livestock officials at the markets. They also demanded the provision of shade, drinking water, sanitation services, and medical assistance.
Cattle markets at Lala Kalay, Ring Road, Hayatabad, Hazar Khwani, and Charsadda Road in Peshawar, along with markets in Amangarh, Akora Khattak, Risalpur, and Pabbi in Nowshera, are flooded with sacrificial animals. While domestic traders from KP and Punjab dominate, a significant number of animals have arrived from Sindh and Balochistan for sale and transport to merged tribal districts.
Mosa Khan and Dilafar Shah, inter-provincial traders, brought 50 truckloads of livestock from Punjab. “The profit margins here are high. I refused an offer of Rs350,000 for my ox, ‘Gulfam’. I won’t accept less than Rs500,000,” he stated confidently.
Interestingly, while prices of large animals such as oxen, buffaloes, and camels are relatively stable, smaller animals like goats and sheep are commanding unusually high prices this year. Dr Aftab Ahmad, Director of Livestock and Dairy Development KP, acknowledged the challenges, saying KP imports nearly 70% of sacrificial animals from Punjab and without this influx, meeting demand would be impossible.
To curb smuggling, several checkpoints have been established along routes to merged districts and Afghanistan. Dr Ahmad also emphasized the role of veterinary teams and that DVM doctors are deployed to monitor livestock health, conduct fumigation, and isolate animals showing signs of illness, such as lumpy skin disease.
The Pakistan Tanners Association spokesman estimated that over 6.1 million animals—worth approximately Rs531 billion—were sacrificed across the country during Eidul Azha last year, including 3 million goats, 2.6 million cows, and 87,000 camels.
Meanwhile, Faud Ishaq, former president of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) advocated for a tripartite export agreement between Pakistan and Afghanistan to stabilize the cattle market and meet domestic demands.
As Eidul Azha approaches, buyers continue to flood the markets in search of affordable options, braving heat, chaos, and unsatisfactory conditions. Their collective demand remains clear, asking for better facilities and stronger oversight to make Eidul Azha’s sacrifice more manageable for the common citizen.
