A large number of stalls selling tools required for slaughtering animals have sprung up in every nook and cranny of the city on the eve of Eid-ul-Azha. Moreover, some vendors providing services for sharpening rusted tools have also appeared in different parts of the metropolis. Meanwhile, a random survey of different localities showed that the sale of butchers' appliances, including knives, cleavers, cutters and stand blades, oven, cookers, barbecue (BBQ) tools registered sharp increase on Wednesday.
Special machines have been placed at various shops for sharpening knives, axes, beef-cutters, and cleavers. Though butchers remain in high demand during all the three days of Eid-ul-Azha, labourers taking advantage of the situation also join the business of slaughtering animals.
People from other professions, like hairdressers, motorcycle mechanics and people selling vegetables have also set up shops for selling fodder, BBQ grills and other related items. Some butchers said that usually the rate of slaughtering animals often remain high during first two days of Eid-ul-Azha, but they are brought down considerably on the third day of Eid. A shopkeeper said that street vendors have been charging double prices of butchery equipment. According to him, prices of medium-sized knives are ranging between Rs 300 and Rs 450, blades-made slaughtering knives between Rs 550 and Rs 650, while prices of stainless steel knives have been increased from Rs 475 to Rs 850. Similarly, normal iron-made choppers were being sold between RS600 and Rs 850 per kg, he added.