Eidul Azha festivities marred by commercial exploitation

Rawalpindi:The Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) has turned the Islamic festival into a commercial event by auctioning off the cattle market in Bhatta Chowk for Rs109.9 million. The entry fee for sacrificial animals such as cows, bulls, and camels in the market has been set at Rs3000 each, and for goats and sheep, it’s Rs2000 each, making it harder for people to celebrate Eidul Azha.

The RCB's actions have burdened the public as sellers are passing down the financial strain to buyers to avoid losses. However, the local administration in Rawalpindi, on the directions of the Punjab government, has set up three to four animal markets free of cost to provide relief to the public. These animal markets have been established at Adiala Road, Chakri Road, and Khayaban-e-Sir Syed, where sellers do not have to pay any fees. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has instructed the establishment of these animal markets to be free of cost. It raises questions about whether the RCB and CCB are not bound to obey the orders of the Chief Minister, or if there are different laws for them. Cantonment Executive Officer Syed Ali Irfan claimed that the auction was transparent and that the winning contractor, Riaz Hussain, will collect the entry fee from the cattle sellers in the market.

Animal sellers have expressed frustration, stating that the RCB and its contractor are overcharging them and providing minimal facilities. They are also passing the financial burden onto buyers by selling animals at exorbitant prices to avoid losses. Buyers, like Muhammad Nawaz, are also troubled by the high prices set by the RCB and CCB during the special occasion of Eidul Azha.

Local resident Shabbir Ahmed mentioned that sellers are demanding high prices for animals due to the auctions of Bhatta Chowk cattle market. The Chief Officer of the Metropolitan Corporation Rawalpindi (MCR), Imran Ali, and the Chief Officer of the District Council, Kamran Khan, stated that they have set up animal markets free of cost. They claimed that on the instructions of the Punjab chief minister, they were not charging any fees from sellers and buyers.