“I have gambled. It cost me over Rs 4 lac to bring rides here from Okara in a hope to generate enough money to bag for my family when I would return home. The game has yet to be started,” said Hakim Ali Rajput while lying on a cot under open sky in the vacant area of his play-land set up in the largest animal market of Asia in Karachi.
This is the first time a play-land has been established in the animal market being administered by Malir Cantonment.
At a distance of around 1150 km from his home, Rajput is still optimistic about his business while he has not yet made a single rupee because he is not allowed to do business until the market gets inaugurated officially.
He said he had seen a large number of people occupying the 950-acre land of the market in all the years to buy sacrificial animals, so hopefully the fate would turn better in his favour. He runs play rides business in Company Bagh Park, Okara.
Rajput has brought many things of entertainment with him including colorful lightning giant wheel, twister, merry-go-round, sea-saw ship, a well of death where stuntmen would ride bikes, ‘Mumtaz Begum’ and a small mobile zoo. The ticket of all the rides is fixed at Rs 50. Sleek giant wheel would give you incredible view of the whole market you would have never seen in your life and sonorous Twister will spin you round and round until you scream.
Many animal traders from across the country have set up their stalls and many others would be on their way as the animal market is going to be inaugurated on 5th September. Animal Market Administrator Rana Imran said many improvements had been made this year.
Scores of young, kids and women can be seen rambling in the market for window shopping. “The prices are as high as ever. We are trying to locate a suitable cow in our budget range,” said Afreen, 27, accompanied by a group of his friends who were taking selfies with vibrant and beautiful animals to upload on social media.
Tahir, a trader at a cattle farm, said they had brought 55 cattle heads with them on 25th August and only six could be sold as yet. “The market is slow initially. It will take a few more days to get momentum.”
