Though the Eid-ul-Azha is just seven days away, sky-rocketing prices of sacrificial animals accompanied with rising inflation is seriously affecting the sale of the animals in Multan and other parts of southern Punjab. As Eid approaches nearer, a large number of people have arrived in the city with their cattle herds and established make-shift markets on green belts and on footpaths etc.
One can also witness small herds of sacrificial animals stationed at various vacant plots in different residential areas and at city's entry/exit points. Vendors of such animals have also established stalls on road sides such as Shah Shams Colony, Chungi No 1, 9, 6, 7, Hazoori Bagh road, Naag-Shah, Shujabad Road, General Bus Stand, Chowk Kumharanwala, Khanewl road etc So far, animals from Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, Loralai, Dera Bugti, Sadiqabad, Sargodha, Sahiwal, Sheikhupura, Vehari and Jacobabad districts have been brought in Multan and vendors say the supply will increase gradually.
On the other hand, the prices of all kinds of sacrificial animals are very high as an average goat weighing about 20 kilograms is from Rs 10,000 to 12,000 while a sheep of the same weight is available for Rs 9,000 to Rs 11,000. A small cow is available between Rs 25,000 to 35,000. Vendors claimed that the prices were expected to come down reasonably with the arrival of more sacrificial animals from different areas of Punjab and Sindh.
Poor sanitary conditions on the city roads and residential areas, traffic jams, non-availability of basic facilities to the visiting animal sellers are common.
As usual, this year the CDGM authorities have announced that animal traders would not be allowed to keep their animals outside certain areas specified for the purpose for the last many years. But the announcement is yet to be enforced because vendors have already started visiting residential localities with their animals.
A number of people have also started buying these animals from these mobile sellers irrespective of their high prices. Every year the animal markets were established usually at Old Bakkar Mandi on Hazoori Bagh road, Chowk Shamsabad, Naag-Shah, Shujabad Road, General Bus Stand, Chowk Kumharanwala and Khanewl road. A CDGM official said the DCO Multan Fazeel Asghar has already directed the Solid Waste Management (SWM) department to constitute special teams to ensure cleanliness in and around the places specified for the sacrificial animals.
The CDGM has also asked the police to ensure security at these places while the respective town governments have been directed to ensure proper lighting at the spot. The Punjab government has announced to waive off entry tax on sacrificial animals but a large number of vendors are complaining about the contractors and officials who allegedly are extorting money from them.
Another reason due to which people are avoiding purchase of sacrificial animals much before EID is the rising chill in the weather. Increased chill is keeping the people away from visiting the animal markets, especially during evening hours. People believe that they have to take extra care of the animals in this extreme cold weather.
Majority of the merchants who had brought in sacrificial animals from far-flung areas of the Punjab and the Balochistan provinces seem to be disappointed because of the low turn out of the buyers. 'I have not witnessed such a low turnout of buyers, especially in Multan during the last many years, said a merchant of Vehari. Though nine days are left in Eid-ul-Azha, people are yet to start visiting the markets and those who come only come to check prices of the animals said another merchant of Sargodha.
The sellers while talking about the increased rates of sacrificial animals said the overhead expenses had increased. They said that this year the price of fodder had almost doubled while the transportation charges had also increased. However, the traders are expecting a rush in markets on coming Sunday.
People have also started contacting butchers in advance to get their animals sacrificed on the Eid day. On the EID day, butchers work in teams, comprising two to three persons each, which slaughters 20 to 25 goats per day. The charges of butchers have also increased, people said adding a butcher was demanding Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 per goat while Rs 4,000 to Rs 4,500 for a calf and a cow whereas for a camel the butchers are demanding Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000 per animal.
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