Livestock sold by weight in Charsadda's village

Bulls are sold at Rs900/kg, buffalo at Rs680/kg

PESHAWAR:

As Eid-ul-Azha approaches, livestock markets across the country, including in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, are drawing large crowds. However, skyrocketing animal prices have made it increasingly difficult for the middle class to fulfill the ritual of sacrifice.

In response to this challenge, traders in Nesata, a village in Charsadda district, have introduced an innovative pricing model — selling sacrificial animals based on weight. According to local sources, the rate for bulls is Rs900 per kilogram, while buffaloes are being sold at Rs680 per kilogram.

This weight-based pricing model, known locally as 'wazan per sale', is proving to be cost-effective. Traders claim that buyers can save between Rs50,000 to Rs70,000 compared to conventional market prices.

As a result, a significant number of people are flocking to Nesata to purchase animals after verifying their weight on a computerized scale. Sellers have installed digital weighing machines near the livestock markets, allowing buyers to get an accurate reading of the animal's weight before making a purchase.

If a buyer finds the total price beyond their budget after the weighing, they are free to walk away - though they are required to pay a Rs100 fee for the weighing slip.

The trend is gaining popularity, particularly among residents of Peshawar and nearby areas, who are now traveling to Nesata for more transparent and potentially economical livestock purchases.

Located just two kilometers from the Charsadda Motorway Interchange, Nesata is fast becoming a hotspot for buyers seeking fairly priced sacrificial animals ahead of Eid.

Meanwhile, with the disbursement of salaries to public and private sector employees, Eid shopping in the city has seen a significant surge. Markets are experiencing a dramatic increase in foot traffic, severely impacting the flow of traffic across major commercial areas.

Alongside traditional Eid shopping, the purchase of sacrificial animals for Eid-ul-Azha is also gaining momentum. On Saturday, both shopping malls and livestock markets across the city witnessed heavy crowds.