The record-breaking floods have marred the trading activities of sacrificial animals in Khyber Pakthunkhwa and FATA as buying of livestock was beyond the purchasing power of people to fulfil the religious obligation of "Qurbani" this year on the holy occasion of Eid-ul-Azha.
The acute shortage of animals in City was caused by floods to livestock sector could be judged from the fact that Rs 5.344 billion losses were incurred to this important sector in Khyber Paktunkhwa. The traders of Sindh and Punjab provinces are rushing their stocks to KPK and FATA to earn maximum amount in the lucrative markets of Peshawar.
An official of Agriculture Department told APP that 94,924 cows and bulls were affected and 29,081 died in the floods, worth Rs 1.769.billion. 44,764 buffaloes worth Rs 2.434 billion were killed and 1,29,394 affected in floods that had caused a shortage of sacrificial animals in City.
Moreover, 50,769 sheep were badly affected and 16,199 died while 51,145 goats were lost and 16,2150 affected, he added. The prices of animals are sky high this year and performing the religious obligation of Qurbani this year would be a dream for middle and salaried class and flood victims.
"It would be very difficult for me to buy animal to perform Qurbani this year as we are living under an open sky after flood washed away my house at village Dheri Mian Ishaq and no money to rebuild my house," Masood Khan, a hair dresser said.
The trading of sacrificial animals is yet to pick up its momentum in city as Eid-ul- Azha, the second Muslim ritual that commemorates the supreme sacrifices of great Prophets Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) and his son Hazrat Ismail (AS) is approaching nearer.
The businessmen of Punjab and Sindh provinces are bringing their animals in large number to the lucrative market of Peshawar, which attracts buyers not only from KPK and FATA but also from neighbouring Afghanistan.
During a market survey conduced by this scribe on Sunday, it was observed in different cattle markets that visitors were more in number than buyers as most of them came to the markets to have an idea about the prices. Traders are expecting that the sale of cattle will pick up as Eid-ul-Azha approaches nearer.
"Since last Saturday, I have sold only 15 goats out of 50 available with me in Firdus market. Buyers and domestic traders mostly comes to markets to know the prices and then return empty handed," said Mosa Khan, a cattle trader in Pachagai road.
Nearly 10 days ahead of Eid-ul- Azha, sacrificial animals have started into local markets but the prices are abnormally high. I will buy a goat in last days of Eid with the hope that the prices may go down," Haider Zaman, a buyer said when asked at Lala Kalli cattle market near Peshawar.
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