The prices of sacrificial animals, especially goats and sheep have increased significantly as the purchasing process has gained momentum ahead of Eid-ul-Azha. As the second religious Muslims festival Eid-ul-Azha, a number of cattle makeshift cattle market has set up in provincial capital Peshawar. The cattle markets have almost full, but the buyers were leaving empty-handed because of exorbitant prices of the sacrificial animals.
The cattle dealers said that the sale of sacrificial animals is at peaked for the couple of days because of few opted to slaughter animals on Eid due to their high prices.
The buyers complained about high-prices of sacrificial animals due to lack of proper check by authorities concerned.
Buyers said the dealers are demanding for cow from Rs 80,000 to Rs 120,000 while bull and oxygen within ranged of Rs 150,000 to Rs 200,000.
Prices of goats range between Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 per animal, while sheep are being traded between Rs 25,000 and Rs 50,000 per animal. Prices of big animals, including cows and camels, range between Rs 55,000 to Rs 250,000 depending on the weight and appearance of the animal.
The dealers, on the other hand, said the prices were high in Punjab and they had to bear other expenses as well such as feed and the tax on cattle head, which ultimately resulted in an increase in the animal's prices.
Talking to this scribe, a resident of Gulbahar, Amin Khan said that prices of all sacrificial animals have been jacked up ahead of Eid. He said the cattle traders are demanding exorbitantly high prices goats, sheep and cow.
Every year, he said that prices had remained sky-high of the sacriicial aminal, forced the middle-class people to opt for collective sacrifices on Eid.
Another citizen, Wasal Khan, a resident of Shinwari Town Peshawar, also complained about the high prices of the sacrificial animal. He said every year citizens make similar complaints but consecutive governments failed to address the problem.
"The government should introduce some price regulations to curb unfair pricing of sacrificial animals. Such initiative will offer an opportunity to low and middle-income citizens to fulfill their religious obligation," he maintained.
A resident of Gulshan Colony, Akram Junaid said he has been visiting the cattle market for the last four days but returned with empty hand due to high prices of the sacrificial animals this year as compared to the last year.
"I hope that the prices will go down a day before the Eid, as it would be impossible for the cattle traders and dealers to bring back these animals to their hometown due to high cost o transportation and other expense, he said.
Meanwhile, the authorities concerned had taken measures for possible spread of Congo virus due to flooding of sacrificial animals in city.
Residents, on the other hand, have complained about the setting of illegal markets in the different areas of the city, causing traffic and health hazards to them. They urged the local administration to take action against illegal cattle markets in the city.
The dealers, on the other hand, said the prices were high in Punjab and they had to bear other expenses as well such as feed and the tax on cattle head, which ultimately resulted in an increase in the animals prices.
The dealers, on the other hand, said the prices were high in Punjab and they had to bear other expenses as well such as feed and the tax on cattle head, which ultimately resulted in an increase in the animals prices.