By Muhammad Luqman
LAHORE, Feb 2: The Punjab government is setting up three more model cattle markets in the province to help livestock breeders receive fair returns for the effort they put into rearing animals.
New markets planned in three districts
“New model cattle markets are being established in Bhakkar, Mohammadpur, and Chowk Azam,” said Bilal Hashim, Chief Executive Officer of the Punjab Cattle Markets Management and Development Company (PCMMDC).
Talking to Wealth Pakistan, he said the new facilities will raise the total number of model cattle markets in Punjab to five. Model cattle markets already operate in Lahore and Jhang.
Hashim said the new markets will cater to the needs of thousands of farmers across the province. In particular, they will serve livestock breeders in remote and underserved regions.
Facilities developed to international standards
Hashim said the government is developing the model cattle markets in line with international standards.
As part of this effort, authorities are installing tensile sheds to protect cattle from intense summer heat in the Punjab plains.
He added that officials have constructed a waterbed tank with a storage capacity of 50,000 gallons at the Shahpur Kanjran cattle market in Lahore.
Shahpur Kanjran capacity and upgrades
Shahpur Kanjran is widely regarded as Pakistan’s largest state-of-the-art cattle market.
The market can accommodate up to 25,000 large animals and around 150,000 small animals at one time.
Meanwhile, Hashim said authorities are constructing security walls at all cattle markets across Punjab. They are also installing CCTV cameras at all model cattle markets to improve security.
“We want livestock farmers to trade in a comfortable and secure environment at these markets,” he said.
Trading infrastructure and support services
Hashim said authorities have built auction rings at the model cattle markets in Lahore and Jhang. These rings help traders display animals more effectively and improve transparency during sales.
He added that officials have developed washrooms at all cattle markets. They have also created spacious car parking areas, loading and unloading bays, veterinary clinics, and banking facilities.
Hashim said PCMMDC was established about a decade ago. The company aims to establish, organise, manage, operate, and regulate cattle markets across the province.
Province-wide operations and digital platform
“In addition to the model cattle markets, the company is currently running 113 cattle markets across all 41 districts of Punjab,” he said.
Moreover, Hashim said the company has launched an e-cattle market application. The application allows people to buy and sell animals from their homes.
The digital platform proved effective during the last Eidul Azha. This period marks the peak season for livestock trading in Pakistan.
Livestock data and small farmers’ concerns
According to the National Agriculture Census 2024, Pakistan’s livestock population stands at 251.3 million animals.
Punjab holds the largest share with 104.2 million livestock.
Commenting on the sector, Prof Irshad Muhammad Khan, former dean at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad, said small farmers dominate livestock rearing in Pakistan.
“About 70 percent of livestock is reared by small farmers who own two to three animals,” he said.
He added that these farmers deserve better prices for animals they raise for months and, in many cases, years.
Talking to Wealth Pakistan, he said cattle markets equipped with modern facilities can help small farmers sell animals when they need money the most.
He added that owners of corporate and medium-sized cattle farms face fewer marketing challenges. However, he stressed that the government must improve marketing mechanisms for small livestock farmers, who often wait too long to receive fair prices.