Rawalpindi Sacrificial animals have started landing in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Sellers are facing worst kind of difficulties, as ‘mandis’ have no proper arrangements like drinking water, lighting system and toilets. Traders have started bringing animals from Punjab, Balochistan, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and surrounding areas of Potohar Region. The process will gain momentum in the coming days like every year, as people from far-off areas of the country bring sacrificial animals to the twin cities in the hope of getting better prices. The sellers belonging to different parts of the country strongly protested against the authorities, who have failed to provide them even necessary facilities like drinking water, proper shelters, toilets and clean spaces in ‘mandis’. They alleged that the authorities only have interest in their contract fee. Chaudhry Abdul Manan, Iqbal Gujjar, Muhammad Bashir, Pervez Masih and Rasheed Gujjar, the sellers who had come here from different parts of the country, said that they need drinking water, toilets and proper shelters in ‘mandis’. “We have to sell animals at higher rates because we have to purchase everything from our pockets particularly water and fodder,” they said. They said that the authorities should provide them at least water and toilets in ‘mandis’ as they have paid private contractors entry fee. Town Officer (TO) Regulations Tousif Ahmed said that they have established cattle ‘mandis’ outside city areas to avoid traffic and security related issues. "We have provided necessary facilities in the approved ‘mandis’, he claimed. A large number of animals, particularly goats and sheep, have arrived in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. A small number of camels have also reached here but prices of sacrificial animals are high. The residents said that they were surprised at high prices of sacrificial animals as compared to previous years. The prices of sacrificial animals are out of the reach of public. It is expected that the prices will come down with the arrival of more sacrificial animals before Eidul Azha. Capital Development Authority (CDA) Chairman Maroof Afzal has directed the authorities to provide all facilities to sellers in ‘mandis’, including supply of water, streetlights and ambulance cover to cope with any untoward incident. He has also directed the authorities to ensure that there is no illegal sale and purchase of sacrificial animals in other parts of the city except for the approved location. The chairman has advised the Directorate of Municipal Administration to ensure effective monitoring for charging the prescribed entry fee approved by the CDA for all kinds of sacrificial animals.
