KARACHI: With the countdown to Eid ul Azha, the market for sacrificial animals at the Superhighway has sprung up on a similar pattern as of erstwhile Eid occasions – but the exorbitant prices being demanded by cattle merchants seemingly have challenged the ‘Holy fervor’ of visitors, forcing them to consider having a shared sacrifice.
During a visit to the market, it was witnessed that many people flocking with intent to buy sacrificial animal - cow, goat, sheep, bull or camel - ending up as an ‘hapless observer’. Almost all cattle merchants at the biggest sacrificial animal market at Superhighway, spread over around 1,000 acres in two sections, have been demanding a minimum Rs.50, 000 for a small cow weighing around 120 to 150 kilograms with sheer rejection of haggling with a customer.
“I am deeply surprised to see such exorbitant rates of sacrificial animals this year. I have a range up to Rs.40, 000 to buy a cattle head but every cattle trader demands above Rs.60, 000. It seems I’ll have to go for a shared-sacrifice as despite having a fair amount in my pocket I am unable to buy it,” said 32-year-old Saeed Anwar while scouring a sacrificial animal of his price range.
Many a people like Anwar encountered by PPI spoke out similar concerns over escalating rates of sacrificial animals while most of them appeared frustrated whether they could perform the prophet-hood tradition this Eid.
Administrator of the Cattle Market for sacrificial animals, Shahab Ikram corroborates the existing fact. According to him, “An average price of a cow varies between Rs.50, 000 and 60,000 while goats were being sold from Rs.25, 000 to 30,000. Sharp increase in petroleum prices and massive-scale devastation caused by floods in Sindh were amongst major factors in high prices of animals this year.” Speaking to PPI, he maintained that it was anticipated that rates of sacrificial animals would see a steep rise mainly due to ravaging floods in Interior Sindh and sharp soar in transportation charges due to raised oil prices – in comparison to last year.
According to Provincial Disaster Management Authority, a total of 94,270 livestock was perished in recent floods by September 29 and the toll later rose up to120, 000 in subsequent days due to various diseases among cattle.
The market administrator was not much concerned over soaring and exorbitant prices of sacrificial animals as. In his view, people habitually indulge in haggling of rates but eventually they buy it. “A cow worth Rs. 1.8 million is sold a couple of days ago that implies money doesn’t matter to people in spending for the holy cause,” said Ikram while referring to the affluent people.
Ikram said by the eve of Eid-ul-Azha, some 4, 00,000 sacrificial animals would have been brought in the market with 2, 00,000 cows and goats each, adding some 2,000 camels would also be brought here by the arrival of the holy event. “All sacrificial animals are being transported here from Different parts of the country including Thatta, Larkana, Rahim Yar Khan, Bhawalpur and Multan.”
The animal traders have labeled their respective cattle heads different names such as Badshah, Tufan, Suraj Mukkhi and Bhura according to their height, weight and color.
Badhshah, being one of the healthiest cow at the market, is put on sale at a cost of Rs 1.6 million and her owner is optimistic that it would be sold at a demanded price. While other cattle heads of his kind are also put on sale which could so far attract a visitors’ sight instead of a genuine buyer.
Cattle head owners are charged Rs.800 as entry fee to the market for each large animal and Rs.500 for small animals, such as goat and sheep. In addition, Rs800 are also charged for each truck that enters the market loaded with these animals.
Regarding security arrangements, Ikram told around 1200 law enforcers including police and Rangers were deployed in and around the market and claimed that no crime incident had been reported so far. In addition, more than a dozen surveillance cameras have also been installed for security purposes.
For facilitation of visitors, he said car parking facilities for up to 20,000 vehicles had been arranged at both sections of the market. Thirty rupees for a four-wheeler and Rs10 for motorcycle were being charged as parking fee. Besides, makeshift branches of two banks had also been opened for customers while Automated Teller Machines (ATM) would also be installed soon, said Ikram.
He said the camps of veterinary doctors had also been established to heal sacrificial animals’ suffering from foot and mouth diseases.
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