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ISLAMABAD, Feb 03 (APP):The Punjab government is setting up three more model cattle markets in the province to help livestock breeders receive fair returns for their efforts in rearing animals.
“New model cattle markets are being established in Bhakkar, Mohammadpur, and Chowk Azam,” said Bilal Hashim, Chief Executive Officer of Punjab Cattle Markets Management and Development Company (PCMMDC).
Talking to Wealth Pakistan, Hashim said these new markets will bring the total number of model cattle markets in the province to five, adding to those already operating in Lahore and Jhang. He said that once finished, the markets will cater to the needs of thousands of farmers across the province’s most remote regions.
The model cattle markets are being developed in line with international standards. Tensile sheds are being installed to protect cattle during the intense summer heat of the Punjab plains, he added.
He said that a waterbed tank with a storage capacity of 50,000 gallons has been constructed at the Shahpur Kanjran cattle market in Lahore.
Shahpur Kanjran, considered Pakistan’s largest state-of-the-art cattle market, has the capacity to accommodate up to 25,000 large animals and 150,000 small animals.
Hashim said security walls are being constructed at all cattle markets across the province, while CCTV cameras are being installed at all model cattle markets. “We want livestock farmers to trade in a comfortable and secure environment at these markets,” he said.
He further stated that auction rings have been built at the model cattle markets in Lahore and Jhang to help traders exhibit their animals more effectively.
He said washrooms have been built at all cattle markets, along with the development of spacious car parking areas, loading and unloading bays, veterinary clinics, and banking facilities.
Hashim said PCMMDC was established about a decade ago with the objective of establishing, organizing, managing, operating, and regulating cattle markets in the province. “In addition to the model cattle markets, the company is currently running 113 cattle markets across all 41 districts of Punjab,” he said.
He added that the company has also launched an e-cattle market application to help people buy and sell animals from their homes. The app demonstrated its effectiveness during the last Eidul Azha, the peak season for livestock trading in Pakistan.
According to the National Agriculture Census 2024, Pakistan’s livestock population stood at 251.3 million, with Punjab holding the largest share at 104.2 million. “About 70 percent of livestock is reared by small farmers who own two to three animals. They deserve better prices for animals they raise for months and even years,” said Prof Irshad Muhammad Khan, former dean at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad.
Talking to Wealth Pakistan, he said cattle markets equipped with state-of-the-art facilities could help these farmers sell their animals when they need money the most.
He added that owners of corporate and medium-sized cattle farms face fewer marketing challenges. “The government must introduce better marketing mechanisms for small livestock farmers, who often have to wait a long time to receive fair prices for their animals,” Prof Khan said.