Sabahat Sarwar
Karachi: As Eid ul Adha draws near, festive activity has begun gaining momentum across Karachi,citizens heading to cattle markets in search of sacrificial animals. The city’s Northern Bypass Cattle Mandi, regarded as Asia’s largest mandi, is witnessing a steady influx of buyers, traders, and livestock from across the country as preparations for the religious occasion continue in full swing.
According to the mandi administration, nearly 130,000 small and large sacrificial animals have so far arrived at the Northern Bypass Mandi, while the number of visitors continues to increase with every passing day.
SSP West Tariq Ilahi Mastoi visited the cattle mandi to review the security arrangements and assess measures taken for the protection of citizens and traders.
During the visit, SSP West stated that more than 1,000 police personnel have been deployed in and around the mandi to ensure strict security and maintain law and order during the Eid season. He said that 44 snap-checking and picketing points have also been established around the area, while police mobiles and motorcycle patrol squads are conducting patrolling on various routes linked to the mandi.
He further stated that, like last year, authorities are working with a comprehensive strategy to maintain the cattle mandi as a “zero-crime zone”. Special traffic management measures have also been implemented to ensure the smooth flow of vehicles despite the increasing rush of buyers.
According to SSP West, additional police force will be deployed as Eid approaches and crowd pressure intensifies further. Plainclothes officers have also been assigned inside the mandi to monitor pickpockets, fraudsters and suspicious individuals attempting to target citizens in crowded areas.
He assured the public that the overall security situation remains fully under control and encouraged families to visit the mandi without fear. Authorities are hopeful that, similar to last year, the Northern Bypass Cattle Mandi will maintain a zero-crime record during the Eid season.
