The demand for professional and seasonal butchers to slaughter sacrificial animals has reached a peak on Eidul Adha. Scores of such professionals from Sindh and Punjab have arrived in the city to earn a livelihood.
This year, Rs20,000-25,000 are being charged to slaughter cows weighing more than 185 kilogrammes on the first day of Eid, while Rs 15,000 to Rs20,000 is the expected rate on the second and third days for same weight.
A total of Rs 10,000-15,000 are being charged for slaughtering animals weighing between 92 and 117 kilogrammes on the first day of the religious holiday. As much as Rs8,000 to Rs10,000 are likely to be charged on the second and third day of Eid.
The butchers are charging Rs3,000 to sacrifice a goat on the first day of Eid, while the rates will drop to Rs2,000 on the second and third days. Those sacrificing camels specifically are charging Rs20,000 to Rs25,000 on the first day of Eid and Rs15,000 to Rs20,000 on the second and third days.
All hands on deck
Due to the increased trend of collective sacrifice and shares in a single animal, there has been a surge in butchers coming from Sindh and Punjab. Welfare institutions organising collective sacrifices avail the services of butchers coming from outside the city over the three days of Eid.
Nearly a million animals will be sacrificed in Karachi for which over 40,000 professional butchers will be required. There are nearly 5,000 to 10,000 professional butchers in Karachi. Cashing in on the opportunity, people from different professions such as mechanics, vegetable sellers, carpenters, daily wage labourers and masons also work as butchers during Eidul Adha.
It is estimated that 10% of citizens slaughter the animals themselves, while the sacrifice of as many as 0.9 million animals is taken care of by paid butchers.
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Garbage collectors and janitors also join the ranks of butchers to earn a decent income. Meanwhile, professional butchers work as groups and sacrifice animals for specific customers in particular areas.
A big group of butchers comprises four to six people, smaller groups of three slaughters three or four big and four to six medium weight animals in a day. It is anticipated that 40,000 to 45,000 butchers will visit the city over the next three days to slaughter 0.9 million sacrificial animals in Karachi.
Carriers?
Due to the lack of Covid-19 vaccine and the alarming spread of the delta variant of the virus, these butchers can become carriers.
Health experts have warned that SOPs must be strictly followed while performing the sacrificing ritual. They said butchers should be compelled to wear face masks.
The experts urged special attention to the cleanliness of tools used for sacrificial purposes. Disposable utensils should be used to feed the butchers.
They said disposable gloves should be used to make shares of the meat and the service of sick butchers should not be availed.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 21st, 2021.
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