Citizens decry high prices of animals

Most customers found wearing masks improperly

LAHORE:

As Eidul Azha is around the corner, trading of sacrificial animals has started gaining momentum in makeshift cattle markets set up for the provincial capital. However, vendors have also taken hold of specific spots in the city to sell their stocks in violation of coronavirus standard operating procedures (SOPs).

A survey of different cattle markets revealed that most customers wore face masks around their chins and only a few were properly covering their nose and mouth.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, a citizen Asim Majeed said he wore a mask because he had heard that the administration would not allow entry into the cattle markets without proper face cover.

“I am not wearing it right now owing to suffocation and humid atmosphere in the cattle market. I believe the coronavirus pandemic is over as the government has opened everything. You can see only a few people are wearing face masks. Majority of shoppers have displayed it on their chins to avoid any action,” he remarked.

Responding to a question, he said the prices of sacrificial animals were 30-40% higher than the previous year. “My friends and I came to the cattle market to buy some goats but small animals’ prices are beyond our budget. So, now we are considering buying a bull for shared sacrifice,” he said.

Another citizen Jawad Sharif, who also was accompanied by a number his friends, said they were visiting cattle markets to survey animals and prices. “We will buy an animal a few days before Eid owing to limited space in the house,” he said. He also complained about higher prices this year as compared to the previous years.

On the other hand, cattle traders complained about sluggish trading activity. They said owing to the coronavirus pandemic and humid weather people were trying to stay away from cattle markets.

Allah Ditta, a cattle farmer from a village near Multan, pointed out that trading activity was slow everywhere in the province. “My brother is selling his livestock in Faisalabad. He was also complaining about slow trading activity in the city. But we are hopeful that all our livestock would be sold before Eid,” he said.

Though the government has ordered strict action against the sale of sacrificial animals at places other than notified, in several areas including Johar Town College Road, Raiwind Road and Thokar Niaz Baig, vendors have brought animals on streets for sale.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 26^th, 2020.