The prices of sacrificial animals in Pakistan increase every passing day as Eid-ul-Adha, the largest Islamic celebration inches closer, commemorated every 10th of Zul-Hajj, which happens to fall within the second week of July. Muslims all over the world sacrifice cows, bulls, goats, and even camels to pay homage to Prophet Ibrahim's (AS) historic sacrifice.
The biggest market for sacrificial animals in the country had been set up along Karachi’s Super Highway, where around 280,000 animals have been brought from different parts of the country. The prices of these various animals are booming due to Lumpy Skin Disease impacting cows.
At least 700 cows are believed to have been killed in Sindh, and thousands severely affected by this disease. The increased prices come at a time where the purchasing capacity is also limited, given the fact that the country is facing dire economic conditions that have impacted many financially, leading to complaints by residents.
Moreover, people are now reluctant to visit these cattle markets due to a fear of the disease, alongside the resurfacing of COVID cases. Thus, more and more people are opting to purchase financially viable shares (hissa) of various animals offered by mosques, welfare organisations, or NGOs.
“I purchased two bulls, two months ago from the Malir cattle market for PKR 220,000,” stated 34-year-old Anwar, a resident of Nazimabad. "The prices of animals are much higher now, and many people came to my house to purchase these bulls by offering sums up to PKR 420,000. However, I refused."
"The Malir cattle market is comparatively cheaper than the Super Highway cattle market," Anwar further explained, highlighting how most of the vendors have purchased animals from Rajanpur, Alipur, Bahawalpur, and other areas of Southern Punjab.
“I spend almost over PKR 1000 on grass, other food items, and chokers for animals daily,” Anwar told The Express Tribune, adding that the expenditures have also increased, thereby predicting a further increase in the purchasing price of sacrificial animals. "Qurbani has become a challenge for the lower socioeconomic classes."
Sameer 40, a shopkeeper living in the Golimar area, also conversed with The Express Tribune, shedding some light on other facets of the matter at hand.
“I purchased a cow from Karachi’s Manghopir cattle market for PKR 45,000. The weight of the cow is almost over 50 kilograms, and it looks pretty charming with its tiny height. People are truly in a bind over how they will purchase a healthy sacrificial animal at a suitable price in Karachi. The prices have almost doubled as compared to last year. People don’t have that kind of purchasing power, given that we are already facing economic challenges due to the ongoing financial crisis in the country."
Provincial task force for control of Lumpy Skin Disease in Sindh
The provincial task force for control of Lumpy Skin Disease in livestock in Sindh stated that hundreds of cases have been reported in the last few months in the province. While the mortality rate is not entirely a cause for concern, the large number of infections are certainly alarming.
Dr Nazeer Hussain Kalhoro, Director, Livestock Sindh in Hyderabad told The Express Tribune that there are 11,392,469 animal populations in Sindh, and 2,645,867 were vaccinated by the department as a preventative measure. At least 10,108 afflicted animals were under treatment while over 42,367 animals recovered successfully.
"There were over 100 cows that died due to Lumpy Skin Disease in Karachi," stated Dr. Nazeer, adding that all the cases of Lumpy Skin Disease have been confined to cows, reassuring that no other animal or person has been reported to have been infected yet.
"The consumption of milk and beef is safer for human health," he continued to state. "Since the disease was thriving in Karachi, locals have refrained from the usage of beef in their daily routine, and prefer to eat chicken. The disease is now under control, and we are also monitoring it properly and vaccinating animals in Sindh."
Religious scholars weigh in
Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman, a renowned religious scholar and former Chairman of the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee shared his opinion with The Express Tribune to provide some form of clarification.
"If any of the sacrificial animal’s legs, ears, eyes, or cow’s tail (oxtail) are damaged, or have cuts, the animal is ineligible for sacrifice on Eid-ul-Adha. If, due to Lumpy Skin Disease, the animal was not able to reach the place of sacrifice, or had the aforementioned afflictions, it would not be eligible for sacrifice. However, if it is in good condition, despite the disease, it is fit for sacrifice."
Additionally, Muneeb stated that medical experts have also declared that people can eat the cow’s meat by cooking it in a safer way and can also use its milk, thereby eliminating any risk.
Vendors and health experts provide reassurances
"My uncle has been in the business of selling sacrificial animals for the past 15 years," stated 45-year-old Korangi resident, Rafiq "Recently, two of the cows were infected with Lumpy Skin Disease. My uncle took both the cows, bent them under the shed, far from the sunlight, and gave them a CALCEE sachet to drink daily to help recover. He also bathed them twice a day with Dettol and Neem petals, making them stand under his shed for two weeks. This eliminated the disease, and he sold them for PKR 220,000 each."
"We are monitoring and examining the sacrificial animals, with a complete check-up, before the entrance at Karachi’s Super Highway cattle market," Dr. Umar Agha, a veterinary doctor at the cattle market told The Express Tribune. "We are checking the animals' Lumpy Skin Disease vaccination before their entrance."
"To diagnose the disease," Dr. Umar continued, "a PCR test is necessary. However the process is long, taking upto five days for the report to be prepared. We have stopped nine vehicles from May 27 till now, and sent them back because each vehicle had an infected cow."
According to the spokesman of the Super Highway cattle market, almost 280,000 sacrificial animals have been brought from different parts of Pakistan, since May 27 till now.
Asif Ali Syed stated that the cattle market management has installed proper lighting with standby generators, ATMs, and bank counters to better facilitate people. Free cold water is also available.
"The management has reduced the booking fee for cattle sellers to Rs. 100," said Asif, adding that allocation within the marketplace will be automated, and receipts for cows and goats will be issued at the same counter. We have trained medical veterinary experts to diagnose impacted animals and we won’t allow them in the cattle market."
There are dozens of small cattle markets and farms set up in different residential areas in Karachi. A large number of cows, goats, and bulls are now being sold on the streets. Vendors are selling animals at Jahangir Road, Guru Mandir, Safoora Goth, Korangi, Liaquatabad, Landhi, Orangi Town, New Karachi, and many other areas. A large number of the residents have visited these small markets to find sacrificial animals at suitable prices.
The increase in shared sacrifices
A large number of people now prefer the sharing of sacrificial animals on Eid-ul-Adha. There are hundreds of mosques, religious semantics, welfare organisations like Edhi Foundation, Chippa, Saylani Welfare Trust, and NGOs offering this service at different suitable prices.
"We charged PKR 15000 per share last year," stated Muhammad Asif, head of the committee of Masjid Wausta in the F.C. Area, "but this year we are charging PKR 18000 per sacrifice share. We bought twelve cows last year for the collective sacrifice sharing system in our mosque, and the cost per animal was almost PKR 98000. We charged PKR 14000 per sacrifice share, after estimating all the expenditures."
"I know so many people who usually purchased their cows for sacrifice on Eid-ul-Adha, but now their financial position is bleak, making them purchase two or three shares instead."
"There are seven shares in one cow, and we provide equal meat to each person who has booked their share. We allot a specific number, and pay slip to every person who has booked the share for the sacrifice. The sharing system becomes stronger every passing year."
Philanthropist and Edhi Foundation head, Faisal Edhi told The Express Tribune that they have a rate of PKR 10000 fixed per share of beef, whereas goat shares are priced at PKR 15,000 per share.
"People are in an uncertain situation as the prices of sacrificial animals are booming in the cattle market this year," Faisal Edhi said, adding that people are now giving preference to the sharing system in qurbani to fulfil Sunnat-e-Ibrahimi. Many NGOs and other welfare organisations collectively share the sacrifices of animals and offer different low-rate packages per share."
Jamil Chandio, an animal vendor living in Gulshan-e-Hameed spoke to The Express Tribune to further highlight the plight associated with increasing prices.
"We purchased the animals after paying a huge amount of money, and bear expensive transportation expenditures to bring them from Punjab to Karachi. I have bought twelve cows and bulls from Rajanpur and booked a truck to bring them to Karachi, but the truck, too, charged a double fare of PKR 80000. Even the toll tax has gone up from PKR 75 to PKR 1000."
Jamil also explained how there has been an increase in the price of grass as well, with a hike from PKR 70/40 kilograms to PKR 670/40 kilograms. Additionally, a per animal entry free of PKR 500 also has to be paid at the cattle market, alongside buying drinking water for the animals, and paying the caretaker's salary.
Jamil lamented over the intricacies that involve price hike, with minute costs amounting to a monumental fee.
"The prices of animals are higher this time in the country," he said. "A goat weighing between 20 to 25 kilograms is priced at PKR 35,000 to PKR 40,000. A 100 kilogram bull or cow is almost PKR 130,000 to 150,000 and a 200 kilogram bull will be at least PKR 300,000 to 340,000."
"There is no rush in the cattle markets this year as compared to last year. People are booking and purchasing animals online, given their reluctance to step out due to the spread of Lumpy Skin Disease and Congo Virus in animals. Moreover, the threat of COVID has once again confined people to their houses."
Zafar Ahmed Khan is a freelance journalist and researcher based in Karachi. He is a fellow of Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Oklahoma, United States. All information and facts provided are the sole responsibility of the writer. He can be reached on Twitter at @Zafar_Khan5.