Lacklustre sales of sacrificial animals in the city has caused severe disappointment to dealers, as high prices and wet, muddy streets have kept most of the buyers away at 'mandis'. A leading dealer in Defence area, Mian Aftab Zia said that brokers buy animals at low rates from different rural areas of the province, and transported to Karachi, Hyderabad and other cities to earn huge profits.
The average price for a small goat ranges from Rs 10,000 to 13,000 while prices of medium sized and heavy animals range anywhere from Rs 15,000 and above, or even more in some cases.
"You can't blame us for the high prices," said a trader, "after all we feed and keep the animals for months before Eid and spend good money on them." His partner added "Meat is so expensive now, how can you expect animals to be sold at last year's rates."
However as Eid approaches, traders are hoping that people will be forced to come to the 'bakra mandis' and choose an animal for the religious festival.
The main animal markets set up in town are at Bakkar Mandi, Chowk Yatim Khana, Baghbanpura, Chauburgi,Ichhra, Township, Chungi Amar Sadhu, Wahdat Road, Multan Road, Railway Station, Delhi Gate, Ghari Shahu, Bhati Gate etc.
Muhammad Jabbar, a trader from Kasur who has set up a shop at 'Qainchi' on Ferozepur road told APP that most people are visiting markets just to assess prices, and termed the situation quite disappointing.
He hoped business would pick up in the next few days, as a number of people opt to buy their animals the night before Eid to avoid the hassle of keeping and feeding them. Muhammad Ramzan from Chungi Amar Sadhu,Muhammad Usman Khan from Wafaqi Colony and Saima Khurshid from National Town, Sanda are among those who have decided to buy just a day before Eid, when prices would have hopefully dropped to an affordable level.
Saif ur Rehman and Sami ur Rehman from Wapda Town said they had gone around various 'mandis' thrice during the last couple of days, but could not purchase a set of two goats and buffalo of their choice at a reasonable price.