As just few days left in celebrations of 'Eid-ul-Azha', the cattle markets are flooded with sacrificial animals in Peshawar. But the residents visiting the market appear to be window shoppers rather than serious buyers due to unrealistically high prices. A survey of makeshift cattle markets in different areas of the city carried out by this scribe here on Saturday, it was witnessed that the prices of lamb, sheep, goat, bull, cow, buffalo and camel have risen sharply, keeping the buyers at bay.
The survey noticed that prices of goats range between Rs 20,000 to Rs 30,000, while sheep are being traded between Rs 40,000 and Rs 50,000 per animal. Prices of big animals, including cows, oxen and camels, range between Rs 110,000 to Rs 150,000 depending on the weight and appearance of the animal.
The situation is a little different this year, as buyers come to the market, choose their favorite animal, and try to bring down the prices. However, a large number of them return empty-handed after their negotiations fail. The situation is not only difficult for buyers but also for animal traders, who feel quite dejected.
This year's Eid-ul-Azha feast will not be the same for Atif Jamil, a buyer and his family. "Cattle traders are demanding exorbitantly high prices for sacrificial animals which have made it really difficult, if not impossible, for common citizens sacrifice in remembrance of Sunnat-e-Ibrahimi," he underlined. Prices of sacrificial animals have almost doubled as compared to normal days, Majid Khan, a buyer, who visited to purchase ox and buffalo in Ring Road cattle market Peshawar. He viewed that the sacrifice on Eid-ul-Azha is no more remain their top priority due to looming inflation and surge in prices of commodity goods compelled them.
Another citizen, Haji Ishtiaq Ahmad, 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 woman said she had come to buy a lamb but the prices were not affordable. She said that she was fortunate enough that she had raised a couple of goats at home and if she did not find a proper lamb, she would slaughter them.
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