More people opted for ijtimahi qurbani

Soaring inflation significantly increased the number of people opting for collective sacrificial arrangements this Eidul Azha, as prices of goats and sheep had reached unprecedented levels across the country, including the provincial capital.

A noticeable crowd was observed at various seminaries and institutions offering collective Qurbani services, where citizens were increasingly booking shares in group sacrifices instead of purchasing individual animals.

The administration of multiple religious seminaries expanded booking operations and introduced separate shifts for registration and fee collection, working day and night to accommodate the growing number of applicants. Separate rates have also been set for the three days of Eid.

For the first day of Eid, the cost of participation in collective sacrifice ranged between Rs35,000 and Rs43,000 per share.

For the second day, rates were set at around Rs33,000, while for the third and final day, prices ranged between Rs30,000 and Rs31,000.

Similarly, the rate for participation in collective camel sacrifice had been fixed between Rs65,000 and Rs71,000 per share.

These rates were significantly higher compared to last year, reflecting the continued rise in food inflation and livestock prices.

Organisers said that increasing costs of food and essential commodities have contributed to overall inflation, which has directly impacted sacrificial arrangements this year.

As a result, many citizens who previously purchased animals individually are now turning to shared sacrifice systems.

Seminary administrations have also introduced different pricing tiers based on the size, health, and strength of animals, with separate rates for premium, medium, and standard-quality livestock.

To facilitate participants, institutions have extended registration and receipt issuance hours to avoid inconvenience for those depositing payments.

The officials said demand for collective arrangements remained high until the final days of Eid due to rising affordability pressures on households.