HYDERABAD:
With Eidul Azha approaching, the buying and selling of sacrificial animals has begun in full swing across the city, but delays in establishing official livestock markets have pushed traders to the roadsides, turning main streets and intersections into makeshift livestock bazaars.
As a result, traffic flow has been severely disrupted, while piles of waste and animal remains have further worsened sanitary conditions in several parts of the city.
With Eid a week away, rising prices have already led citizens to start buying animals for sacrifice. Many residents of Hyderabad travel to the interior districts of Sindh in search of livestock, while others continue to search locally depending on their budget and preferences.
However, instead of designated facilities, livestock traders have established informal markets along highways, intersections, and neighborhood streets. Areas like Godh Chowk, Latifabad Unit 8 Chowk, Unit 7 Central Road, Unit 10, Pakka Qila Chowk, Gado Chowk, various parts of Qasimabad, Phuleli, Paretabad, Sakhi Pir Chowk and Liaquat Colony have allegedly been turned into temporary cattle selling points.
Every night, merchants gather goats and other animals, tie them along the roads and continue sales directly on the streets. Commuters are often forced to stop their vehicles in the middle of the road to ask about prices, further worsening traffic congestion throughout the city.
The presence of animals on roads, along with feed waste and manure, has contributed significantly to the increase in garbage piles, creating serious difficulties for residents in their daily travel.
According to sources, an official livestock market is held every Wednesday at Hatri Bypass below UC Hatri, where large and small animals are usually sold. However, the contract for this year’s Eid livestock market is yet to be awarded. Similarly, official markets under the Municipal Corporation and Hyderabad Cantonment Board have also been delayed.
In the absence of regulated facilities, traders continue to operate on the streets, while police at local police stations are reportedly unable to take effective action.
Meanwhile, in areas like Latifabad Unit 10 and Phuleli, private farms and livestock compounds are also seeing large-scale movements of animals brought from interior Sindh as well as cities like Multan, Bahawalpur and Gujranwala for sale.
Residents continue to move through crowded streets late into the night in search of animals suitable for sacrifice, while temporary markets on Hyderabad’s roads become more congested by the day.
