World's largest cattle market (Maveshi Mandi) has been set up at the Super Highway on 1000 acres land to provide the people of Karachi with sacrificial animals on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha.
Eid-ul-Azha requires sacrifice of animals to commemorate the event when the sacrifice of Hazrat Ismail (AS) was offered by his father Hazrat Ebrahim (AS) as ordained by God. On this occasion, Muslims, beside offering Eid prayers, sacrifice animals including cattle, buffalo, goats, sheep, camel etc, and the meat is distributed among fellow beings, preferably the poor and the needy.
To meet the rush of people anxious to buy sacrificial animals, a big cattle market has been set up at Super Highway, near the new Sabzi Mandi (Vegetable Market), about 5 km from Sohrab Goth, Karachi.
"We have established cattle market on 1000 acres land, which has been divided into two major zones. 'Zone-I' has been set up on an area of 700 acres for cows, camels and buffaloes, while 'Zone-II' comprises 300 acres for other animals like goat, sheep etc," said Shahab Ali, Administrator of Faisal Brothers (contractors of Pakistan Army).
He said that animals from all over the country have started arriving, and so far 10,000 animals have arrived. The numbers is increasing with every passing day. On average, 1000 animals arrive daily, he said.
Being the world's largest cattle market, which is being established for the past three years, over 0.2 million animals are sold in a month's time before Eid-ul-Azha", he said. All necessary facilities are available in the cattle market, which gives the look of a small city, established for a month, he added.
He said a parking lot, on 20 acres plot, has also been set up to cater to the parking problems, while special security arrangements have also been made. Parking fee rates are Rs 10 for motorcycles and Rs 25 for cars, Suzukis and trucks.
"Security arrangements will be beefed up with the help of closed-circuit TV cameras installed at the market and security guards have been posted to cope with any untoward situation."
A special VIP block has been added where only high quality and costly animals would be available. He said that in order to protect the brokers and traders from getting looted two booths of National Bank of Pakistan would work round the clock in the market to facilitate and enable them safe deposit of their earnings in the bank.
Food centres, hotels, mosques, pan shops, kirana shops and animal feed shops have also been set up to facilitate the traders. These would remain functional 24 hours a day, he added. "This year, animals are also available on the Internet, and people may book their animals online. Credit cards would be acceptable for the purchase of animals", he said. He said that due to cold weather special arrangements have been made for lodging the animals, and more than 60 percent area has been covered with tents where lights have been installed.
"Due to the huge expenses, this year entry fees have been increased by Rs 50 and Rs 25, respectively, for cows and goats amounting to Rs 450 per cattle and Rs 200 per goat as entry fee to bear market expenses", he said.