PESHAWAR: With only five days remain in second muslim holy ritual Eidul Azha, the prices of the sacrificial animals are registering escalation as sacrifice this year seem merely a dream for many salaried and middle class families.
The high prices of animals and the low purchasing powers of the people have made sacrifice merely a dream for many of salaried and middle class this year.
A market survey conducted by this scribe here Sunday revealed that this year the prices of sacrificial animals have gone double as compared to that of last year. "Many of the retired and in-service government employees are seem unable to perform the important religious obligation this time because sacrificial animals are beyond their purchasing power, "Misal Khan, a retired Government employee said.
A buffalo, cow and a lean goat are now being sold for Rs.100,000-70000, Rs,80000-50,000 and Rs40,000-20,000 rupees in the local market of Peshawar.
"The total sale of sacrificial animals these days is around 100 against 300 cattle last year," an employee of Lala Kalay cattle market said.
He said he has so far received about 1000 cattle from Punjab and Sindh provinces and I expect more from other provinces as Eidul Azha become more closer.
These days, he said, most of buyers just come, ask about prices and then return empty hands, he remarked.
"The prices of ox and goats are higher here than in Punjab and Sindh," Sifat Ullah, cattle businessman of Aslam Dheri, Peshawar, said. He said that he refused the offer of Rs 80,000 for his ox named "Bulbul" last Saturday as he was demanding Rs100,000 for it at Pachagai market.
He, however, said sometimes they are suffering financial loses when their cattle were not sold during Eidul Azha days or die.
"There is a gradual decrease in the sacrificial animals in KP during the last few years due to floods to meet the growing demand of the people at the advent of Eidul Adha days," an official of Livestock and Dairy Development department said. About 50,000 to 60,000 cattle were being sacrificed only in KP, he informed.
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