Cattle traders face market overheads

Management makes public announcements about official fees

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Men sitting in a motorcycle rickshaw pull two camels festively adorned for sacrifice on Multan Road in Lahore. Sale of sacrificial animals has gained momentum in the city ahead of Eidul Azha. Photo: ppi

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LAHORE:

Traders and visitors at Lahore's biggest cattle market have complained of excessive fees being charged in violation of the official rates.

They alleged that the charges for the entry of sacrificial animals, fodder and allocation of space in the Shahpur Kanjran market were being collected at inflated rates, allegedly with connivance of contractors and officials.

Traders said the financial burden was ultimately being passed on into livestock prices.

Despite official entry fees being set at Rs200 for goats and Rs500 for large animals, the traders alleged they were being charged up to Rs1,000 for large animals and significantly higher than prescribed rates for other categories also.

Separate charges are also reportedly being collected for fodder, straw, and wheat feed.

In addition, allocation of feeding troughs and small spaces is said to be charged at nearly Rs100,000 instead of the official Rs60,000, while larger animal enclosures are reportedly being allotted at rates exceeding Rs250,000.

Livestock traders from various districts said that although the Punjab government had announced free entry into the cattle markets, the facility at Shahpur Kanjran was witnessing double and triple charging as compared to the approved schedule.

They further alleged that the excessive charges were impacting the prices, making sacrificial animals more expensive ahead of Eidul Azha.

"The animals were already expensive, but these illegal charges have pushed the prices even higher," said a trader.

He said government action against profiteering would help citizens buy sacrificial animals at fair prices.

Responding to the concerns, Cattle Market Management Company Chief Executive Officer Qaiser Habib said the contractors were being charged according to the official fees.

He said public announcements were being made in the market regarding official rates, urging traders to report any overcharging.

"We will take action against anyone found collecting excessive fees," he added. Meanwhile, as livestock markets witness a surge in trading ahead of Eidul Azha, authorities uncovered a network involved in supplying spurious injections allegedly administered to sacrificial animals to enhance their value.