Prices of animals soar ahead of Eidul Azha

Exorbitant prices force prospective buyers to return home empty-handed

RAWALPINDI:

Prices of sacrificial animals have soared ahead of Eidul Azha, forcing many aspirant buyers to return home empty-handed.

The increase in the prices of petroleum products and the devaluation of the rupee is believed to be the reasons behind the price hike.

The high prices are forcing prospective customers to employ the “wait-and-see” strategy to get an animal of their choice.

Cattle traders have started to bring animals to the cattle markets and can be seen wandering the streets to attract customers.

The sellers are demanding high prices because they were spending a lot of time waiting for the customers.

Traders hoped that sales will gain momentum in the coming days as the religious festival approached and buyers start visiting the markets.

Sellers said that the enormous increase in taxes and transportation costs has increased the price of large and small animals.

They claimed that no animal could be sold in the main Bhata Chowk market in the last one week. The sellers said that most people show up and return after asking about the rate of animals but without buying animals.

Market sources said that because of the unprecedented rise in inflation, the sale of animals will probably record the lowest percentage this year.

In addition to the main cattle market, the sale of sacrificial animals has also been started in the city and cantonment areas despite a ban. Animals are being sold day and night at Bani Chowk, Jamia Masjid Road, Murree Road, Rawal Road, Adiala Road, Misrial Road, Ghazni Road, IJ Principal Road, Satellite Town, and Pirudai.

In the open market, a normal bull is being sold at Rs130,000, a medium bull is at Rs150,000, a slightly better bull is at Rs200,000, and a sturdy bull is available between Rs350,000 to Rs 500,000.

Similarly, a normal camel’s rate starts at Rs150,000, medium at Rs200,000 and a fine camel is available at Rs400,000. While normal goat and sheep are being sold at Rs90,000, medium at Rs150,000 while a fine small animal is available for Rs200,000. The entry fee for large animals has been fixed at Rs3,000, while the entry fee for small animals is Rs2,000.

Bakarwals have started selling sacrificial animals openly in the city instead of in the cattle market due to utility bills and a heavy rent.

Raja Aurangzeb, who sells animals, said, "We have started the process of weighing and selling animals for the convenience of the people. People will get relief. We have reduced our profits. We will continue this trend till Eidul Adha."

Fayyaz Khan said that numerous people have started contacting them as they have started selling and weighing animals. He said that NGOs and religious organisations have placed orders to purchase large number of animals from them.

Asim Ali, at Bakarwal at the Bhatta Chowk market, said, "The business activity has just kicked off. He said that the cattle market will gain momentum from July after people received their salaries.

Meanwhile, the Rawalpindi livestock department has failed to deploy teams to check animals transported to the market for any illnesses or diseases. A livestock department official said that “we will deploy teams from July 1 since the cattle market is in its early stage and it will start gaining momentum from July 1.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 24^th, 2022.