In preparation for Eid ul Azha, the Rawalpindi divisional administration has approved eight official cattle markets across the district, strictly prohibiting the sale of animals along roadsides or in unauthorized areas.
To maintain public health and safety standards, only animals that have been certified as healthy will be allowed in these markets.
The sale of sick or undernourished animals is strictly forbidden, and anyone found breaking these rules will face legal consequences, including the seizure of their livestock.
Traders arriving from South Punjab have voiced concerns over being charged inflated entry fees at the main Bhata Chowk cattle market.
They claim that instead of the official rate of Rs3,000 for large animals, they are being forced to pay Rs7,000, and Rs6,000 for small animals, which should only cost Rs2,000.
These added costs come on top of already high transportation expenses for travelling nearly 600 kilometres.
Contractors at the market have defended the higher charges, saying they are trying to recover the money spent on securing a costly contract for managing the site.
Commissioner Aamir Khattak has directed that all designated cattle markets must have disinfectants, regular fumigation, and emergency fire services on standby.
He has also instructed traffic police to enforce traffic plans to avoid congestion around these busy areas.
Three official markets have been set up in Tehsil Rawalpindi, at Bhata Chowk in Rawalpindi Cantt, near Koh-e-Noor Mill, and in Mouza Ranyal close to the Fatima Jinnah University Campus on Chakri Road.
Other markets will operate in various locations, including Kallar Syedan Road, near Mankiala Bridge, and Gulyana Road by the slaughterhouse in Tehsil Gujar Khan.
Additional setups are at the Sharif Hospital Stop on GT Road and Timber Market Road in Tehsil Taxila, Mangal Bypass in Tehsil Kallar Syedan, and Chan Shah Jaliar on Tangi Road in Tehsil Kahuta.
The commissioner has stressed that all departments involved must ensure cleanliness, basic facilities, and smooth traffic flow at each of these markets.