Skyrocketing prices: sacrificial animals out of reach of many people this year

The prices of sacrificial animals are out of the reach of many this year to offer religious obligation on the upcoming ritual festival of Eid-ul-Azha. The prices are higher as compared to last year due to unabated smuggling of cattle to Afghanistan and Iran, said meat dealers.
"I am astonished that the prices of animals are much higher than the last year. A large number of people throng the cattle markets and go back without buying the animal, said Aziz-ur-Rehman, a buyer, during a survey conducted by Business Recorder, here on Friday. He said that the prices are out of his purchasing power.
The minimum price of small cow is Rs 40,000 to 50,000, while the cattle from Rs 100,000 to 200,000 are also available in the markets. But the buyers were unable to buy much expensive ready to pay huge amount because of inflation and growing financial constraints.
A cattle dealer said the reopening of border area is the major behind soaring prices of sacrificial animal as Rs 10,000 to 15,000 increases per cow within a week, said Nabiullah, a trader. He endorsed that said the prices are much higher as compared to last year because of the prevailing situation. During the visit to markets, the lengthy and unresolved bargains between buyers and punchers of the sacrificial animals over the prices were seen.
"I am here in the market to buy a sacrificial animal but the prices are even doubled as compared to the last year's prices", Ishtiaq Ahmad, a buyer. The market's trend shows that on this Eid, most of the faithful would not be able to perform the sacrificial ritual," Haji Riaz, told this scribe at the cattle market. Ismail Khan, a trader of animals, said that the prices soared manifold due to smuggling of cattle to Afghanistan and Iran.