KARACHI: As arrival of sacrificial animals continues to rise in Karachi with each passing day, the main cattle market on Superhighway is currently drawing more visitors than actual buyers.

Around 125,000 cows and buffaloes, over 12,000 goats and around 450 camels have so far arrived from the up-country in the Asia’s biggest cattle market, while there is negligible number of animals at other small cattle markets of the city.

Purchasing of sacrificial animals may gain pace from Friday onwards, while VIP tents displaying costlier animals are currently centre of attraction for children.

Naveed Baig, a spokesman for the cattle market, said that the animal market has around 10 per cent buyers as compared to 80-90pc visitors.

Last year the market witnessed arrival of over 250,000 cows, 90,000 goats and 3,200 camels.

Habib Metro Bank has opened its branches at the cattle market while a complaint centre has also been established to resolve complaints.

Famous cattle farms, namely Sindh Dairy Farms, Dilpasand, Afridi Cattle, Surti Cattle, Haji Allah Rakha Cattle Farms and many others are present at the market for the convenience of buyers.

Naveed said he cannot predict whether there would be more animals this year than 2014 as buyers lift sacrificial animals from three to four other cattle markets in the city.

Cow Mandi has been set up on 950 acres. It has 29 blocks. Of which, five are VIP blocks whereas goat mandi has one general and one VIP block. This year cow / goats and camel markets have been merged, allocating 200 acres for the goat market.

Cattle merchants have to pay Rs1,000 for cows and camels and Rs600 for goats as fee. The cattle merchants in return are being provided free space, lighting and security arrangements, 16 litres of water for animals each and vaccination against congo virus.

Published in Dawn, September 8th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play