Price of sacrifice to rise manifold

Citizens are struggling to purchase sacrificial animals as there seems to be no regulation of prices

LAHORE: As the festival of Eidul Azha is fast approaching, the sale and purchase of sacrificial animals has started in the provincial capital.

Cattle markets are being set up around the city but the prices of animals appear to rise manifold. Citizens are struggling to purchase sacrificial animals and there seems to be no regulation of prices.

A survey of different sale points revealed that the price of an average sized goat ranges from Rs40-70,000. A lamb or sheep costs around Rs30-60,000 while a cow costs around Rs70-140,000 in most markets.

This survey showed that prices are higher than the prices of sacrificial animals in the previous year due to a hike in the US dollar exchange rate. A seller named Kabir Khan said that a rise in transportation charges, rise in costs of animal breeding and feeding as well as issues of bribes and high taxes at various points has led to the increase in the animal prices. 

Published in The Express Tribune, July 27^th, 2019.