Traders of sacrificial animals exposed to forced payment of taxes

November 21, 2009

By Irfan Aligi

KARACHI: Livestock traders have been made a ready resource for the generation of revenue by certain agencies controlling the animal markets in city especially the two leading markets such as Sohrab Goth’s animal market, Malir goat market and Pakistan’s largest animal market in Bin Qasim Town.
The traders have been compelled to pay extra taxes especially on large cattle such as cows; bulls and the contractors have been extorting taxes that were only for milching animals such as buffaloes.
According to details this scribe has collected from the livestock traders, the district and taluka municipal administrations that constitute animal markets to trade out to other cities have raised rate of taxes from Rs 200 to Rs 1,200 per sacrificial animal.
The livestock traders then pay Rs 200 per sacrificial animal at the City District Government Karachi’s (CDGK) check post established at Nooriabad. Surprisingly, the check post falls within the precincts of district Jamshoro. The personnel incumbents at the check post hail from interior of Sindh.
The tax paid at Nooriabad was only for the milching animals being transported from other cities to city’s largest cattle colony located in Bin Qasim Town and commonly known as “Bhains Colony”.
On reaching Sohrab Goth’s animal market, which is being established temporarily for Eid Ul Adha purpose, the traders pay Rs 650 per animal to a contractor on behalf of Malir Cantonment Board. The traders informed this scribe that Sohrab Goth’s animal market falls within the limits of Malir Cantonment Board, CDGK and Gulshan-e Iqbal Town Municipal Administration so the each agency gets its share according to percentage.
The traders have to pay from Rs 30,000 to 300,000 for temporary premise for keeping the animals while they have to pay Rs 5,000 for obtaining a tent to provide cover to animals. A 10-litre water can is available for Rs 20 while the traders and animals consume averagely 10 cans while the traders pay Rs 50 per day for one florescent bulb for lighting purpose.
The Bakra Mandi (Goats’ Market) in Malir Town is a permanent animal market of the city but the contractor there collects Rs 275 per animal as special Eid Tax besides a regular tax of Rs 20 per animal.
Interestingly, the contractor issues two different receipts, one with noting in English and the other with dates noted in Arabic.
As well, a strong group of middlemen in Malir’s Bakra Mandi forcefully collects Rs 1,000 per animal from the livestock traders.
However, unlike other temporary or permanent animal markets in city, the permanent animal market located within the precincts of Bin Qasim Town Municipal Administration, the livestock traders only pay entry fee, which is Rs 20 per animal. The Bin Qasim TMA has provided water and electricity free of cost while the livestock traders do not pay the rent for the premises, as well.
On the other hand, the transporters have also raised transportation charges twice as double while police and traffic police also receive their share.
Meanwhile, the livestock traders find no security measures on two consecutive days of Eid Ul Adha because the management at the Sohrab Goth’s animal market leaves the area in the evening of first day of Eid Ul Adha. The livestock traders have also complained of threats from Afghani extortionists and theft of animals at gunpoint was also a matter of concern during following days.
The situation has caused artificial hike in animals’ price and a normal weight cow or a bull is sold at a price that ranges from Rs 30,000 to 70,000 while goats are sold either by weight at the rate of Rs 230 to Rs 260 per kg or prices range from Rs 6,000 to Rs 15,000 for normal goats.It is roughly estimated that the livestock traders pay Rs 5,000 as minimum on each animal till it was brought in the city and was sold.