With the prices of sacrificial animals soaring day by day, citizens are turning to the tradition of ‘Ijtamai Qurbani’ (collective sacrifice), under which every individual contributes in his capacity to perform the millennia-old religious ritual with fellow faithful.
This was revealed in a survey of the various cattle markets conducted by this scribe.
As per the survey, residents of various localities have arranged for combined sacrifices with the cooperation of various religious and social organisations including local madrassas and mosques. A large number of people have also arranged for combined qurbani with their relatives and friends. “It is better to take part in the collective sacrifice arranged by a nearby madrassa or mosque during these hard times of inflation, and we will do so because we will have to spend only Rs25,000 to Rs30,000 for a share and its affordable,” said a local named Faisal. The prevailing economic crunch leading to limited incomes amid steady increases in animal prices in recent years has led to the trend of collective sacrifices, another citizen said. The prices of the sacrificial animals have further increased this year as compared to the last year owing to an increase in transportation charges and other associated expenses. The prices of bulls in the market have increased from Rs50,000 to Rs150,000 per animal as compared to last year while the price of A category bull has increased from Rs100,000 to Rs200,000. Moreover, the price of B category bull has increased from Rs50,000 to Rs100,000 and prices of C category have surged from Rs40,000 to Rs70,000. The prices of goats and sheep have also increased by up to 50 per cent.
The price of A category goat/sheep has increased from Rs30,000 to Rs50,000. The price of a B category has increased from Rs20,000 to Rs30,000 and C category to Rs15,000 and above.
Meanwhile, as Eid draws near, the sale of sacrificial animals is gaining momentum.
Previously, the Rawalpindi district administration had set up temporary cattle markets at 11 different places in the district in connection with Eidul Azha. According to a district administration spokesperson, the administration on the directives of the deputy commissioner had finalised all the arrangements and established five cattle markets in Rawalpindi city, two in Gujjar Khan, two in Taxila, and one each in Kallar Syedan and Kahutta.
Assistant commissioners and chief officers of municipal corporations had been directed to supervise the cattle markets, he informed.
Earlier, the DC office through a notification had directed the authorities concerned to make all necessary arrangements so that the sellers and buyers could be accommodated with necessary precautionary measures in a hygienic environment in the light of the guidelines issued by the Punjab government.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 26th, 2023.
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