Butchers cash in, charge premium for slaughter
Like the rest of the country, Eidul Azha was celebrated with religious zeal across Peshawar, the tribal areas, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Saturday. Special Eid congregations were held in mosques and open grounds, with the largest gathering in Peshawar taking place at the city's main historic Eidgah on Charsadda Road.
After offering Eid prayers, citizens performed the ritual animal sacrifices in accordance with the Sunnah of Prophet Ibrahim (AS). Many also visited graveyards to offer prayers and recite fatiha for deceased parents and relatives.
The tradition of animal sacrifice continued on both days of Eid. After completing the sacrificial rites, families prepared a variety of traditional dishes and hosted gatherings for close relatives, friends, and neighbors. Recreational parks in Peshawar saw large crowds, especially in the evenings.
Butchers in high demand
Butchers in the city had decided to cash on the situation well in advance, anticipating a surge in demand. On Eid day, they charged premium prices for their services. Many untrained and seasonal butchers also sprang into action, offering their servicessometimes at the expense of quality and hygiene.
Rates for slaughtering animals varied. On the first day of Eid, professional butchers in Peshawar charged between Rs10,000 to Rs20,000 for large animals, and Rs5,000 to Rs10,000 for goat and sheep. On the second day, prices dropped slightly, with large animals being slaughtered for Rs8,000 to Rs10,000, and smaller animals for Rs3,000 to Rs5,000.
Citizens who failed to pre-book professional butchers were often left to rely on the services of inexperienced or seasonal butchers.
24,939 tons of waste disposed of
Advisor to the K-P Chief Minister on Information, Barrister Dr Muhammad Ali Saif, has announced that a total of 24,939 tons of animal waste and garbage were efficiently and promptly disposed of during the Eidul Azha cleanliness campaign across the province.
On average, each district successfully managed the disposal of 693 tons of waste, with 10,779 personnel participating in the province-wide initiative. Barrister Saif noted that a total of 1,289 complaints were received during the campaign, all of which were addressed promptly and effectively.