Sale of sacrificial animals goes digital

Customers can now pick animals they like from comfort of their homes


APP August 29, 2017

ISLAMABAD: With technology now easing the purchase of everything from houses to tissue paper, it comes as little surprise that the once arduous – though adventurous – task of purchasing a sacrificial animal ahead of Eidul Azha has now become as easy as clicking a button.

As Eidul Azha approaches, the trend of online trade of sacrificial animals has been gaining traction with buyers, mostly youngsters preferring to book their ‘meat’ digitally.

Warning sounded over sale of sacrificial animals

Apart from allowing you to select the type of goat or cow you want, you can even have it delivered to your doorstep, skipping the need for you to visit a cattle pen or market and then haggle with a truck driver to transport the animal all the while dealing with large crowds, parking headaches and traffic logjams.

Several billboards in the cities have sprung up offering online sale of sacrificial animals, advertising addresses of websites.

A citizen said that there is an abundance of gadgets available in peoples’ homes and they want to use them to make their lives easier. He said that the trend of buying of sacrificial animals online was growing owing to the ease it offered. Moreover, he said that it was an indicator of how the country was fast technology in their everyday lives.

Apart from offering pictures and prices, some of these online markets are also providing videos, voice recordings and other descriptions of the variety and prices of sacrificial animals which help customers make their choice.

However, the introduction of technology has had a downside with traditional sacrificial animal dealers left waiting for customers in makeshift markets.

But the real reason for the lack of customers in traditional markets, student Javed Usman explained, were the extra ordinarily high rates of sacrificial animals which discouraged potential customers.

A resident, Asif Hanif, said that the trend of online buying of animals on Eidul Azha had become popular since some websites were offering people the option of buying animals by weight.

“In traditional mandis, the customers are seen haggling over prices of sacrificial animals with livestock dealers demanding ten times the prices,” he added.

High prices of sacrificial animals keep buyers at bay

Apart from selling sacrificial animals through services such as ‘Bakra on Wheels’, other related services too are now being offered online such as Online Kasai which allows customers to hire butchers for Eidul Azha.

Shopping frenzy

With just a few days left till Eidul Azha, residents of twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi can be seen thronging to shopping malls

All the major markets of the city are full of people rushing to buy new dresses, accessories and even household items.

Women are seen preoccupied with buying clothes, footwear, cosmetics, henna, bangles and other items.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 29th, 2017.

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