As just a week is left to celebrate "Eid-ul-Azha, a huge rush of buyers is being witnessed at makeshift cattle markets set up at very points in provincial capital, Peshawar. However, it seems that this year, the prices have increased manifolds and buying sacrificial animals would be difficult for the masses due to sky-rocketing prices.
The trade of animals has steadily increased in the provincial capital. Unscrupulous traders have jacked up the prices of sacrificial animals despite reportedly local administration's strict measures, curbing smuggling of animals to neighbouring Afghanistan. When this scribe asked the sellers about higher prices, they replied that the recent flood in Punjab province was the main reason for sky-rocketing prices of animals, besides the imposition of ban on the transportation of cattle by the Government of Punjab, multiple taxes, transportation charges and smuggling of cattle to neighbouring country Afghanistan.
Owing to higher prices, sacrifice may become merely a dream for many salaried and middle class families this year. Amidst rising prices of animals, most of people are giving preference to collective sacrifice. Animals from different parts of the province, like Charsadda, Mardan, and adjacent villages of Peshawar and other parts have started arriving in the "Mandis" of the metropolis.
Price of buffalo has risen from Rs 40,000 to Rs 60,000, while cow is also available in range of Rs 80,000 to Rs 100,000, compelling people to adopt collective sacrificial method, according to the survey conducted by Business Recorder at local makeshift markets in Peshawar.
Similarly, the prices of goats and sheep have also witnessed a sharp increase by up to 30 percent. "The average prices of goat is more than Rs 10,000, while sheep is being sold at Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 which are out of reach of the general people." The main markets of the city where great rush was observed are Chargano Chowk, Kohati Gate, Ramdas, and Palosi, where traders are bringing animals from the rural parts of Peshawar and selling them at exorbitant prices.
Buyers are visiting cattle markets but return without purchasing of sacrificial animal due to sky-rocketing prices. They complained that the prices of animals are completely out of their range. "Certainly, the prices are no way in my budget limit," Jamil Ahmad, a purchaser, told this scribe. He said a sharp increase was witnessed in prices of animals as compared to last year, adding that I last 'Eid-ul-Azha', purchased a buffalo for Rs 30,000, but this time, I didn't find any animal within this range in the Mandi. Another buyer, Ishtiaq Ahmad said, "I have come here to buy a sheep but got astonished when I inquired about the prices of some animals. Vendors are demanding around Rs 20,000 for a sheep."