High prices of sacrificial animals keep buyers at bay

LAHORE: As price of surficial animals have gone beyond the reach of the buyers, people have started planning to go for combined sacrifice this year.

The cattle markets set up in different districts have yet to gain momentum. The cattle traders were seen convincing people and potential buyers and due to abnormally high prices little interest has been seen so far though only about 15 days are left in Eidul Azha.



Livestock traders at cattle markets said the prices, as compared to last two years, have gone up by almost 30%. The average price of a healthy goat has escalated to Rs35,000 and a cow between Rs55 to Rs70.

"The rates are beyond my budget, and it's not possible for me to carry out this ritual of sacrifice," said Usman Mughal, a buyer at the market. "I think more than half of the population in city will not be able to buy animals this Eid," noted Imran, an employee of a private organisation.



"So many animals were killed in the floods four years ago which hit the breeding and this is basically the reason for the high rates," said Yousaf Khan, a trader from Hyderabad.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 18^th, 2017.