Cattle traders hit by soaring market overheads

LAHORE: Traders and visitors at Lahore’s largest cattle market in Shahpur Kanjran have complained that fees are being collected above the officially notified rates, saying the additional costs are adding to the price of sacrificial animals ahead of Eidul Azha.

According to the complaints, charges for the entry of sacrificial animals, fodder and space allocation at the market are being collected at inflated levels. Traders alleged that the overcharging was taking place with the connivance of contractors and officials, and said the resulting financial burden was being transferred to buyers through higher livestock prices.

Under the official schedule, entry fees are fixed at Rs200 for goats and Rs500 for large animals. However, traders said they were being asked to pay as much as Rs1,000 for large animals, while charges for other categories were also allegedly above the prescribed rates.

They further said separate amounts were being collected for fodder, straw and wheat feed. In addition, they alleged that feeding troughs and small spaces were being allotted for nearly Rs100,000 instead of the official Rs60,000, while larger enclosures for animals were reportedly being given at rates above Rs250,000.

Impact on animal prices

Livestock traders from different districts said the Punjab government had announced free entry into cattle markets, but claimed that at Shahpur Kanjran, charges were being collected at double and even triple the approved rates. They said the excessive fees were contributing to a rise in the prices of sacrificial animals in the run-up to Eidul Azha.

One trader said the additional charges had worsened an already expensive market for buyers. He said government intervention against profiteering would help people purchase sacrificial animals at reasonable rates.

Responding to the complaints, Cattle Market Management Company Chief Executive Officer Qaiser Habib said contractors were being charged in line with the official fee structure. He said announcements were being made inside the market to inform the public about the approved rates and to encourage traders to report any instance of overcharging.

Habib said action would be taken against anyone found collecting fees beyond the prescribed amounts.

Trading activity increases before Eid

The complaints have surfaced at a time when livestock markets are seeing increased activity before Eidul Azha. The report also said that authorities had uncovered a network allegedly involved in supplying spurious injections said to be administered to sacrificial animals to increase their market value.

The development adds to concerns in the livestock trade as buyers and sellers continue preparations for the religious festival, with traders insisting that enforcement of official rates is necessary to prevent further pressure on animal prices.