Sacrifice season: Sharing is caring when it comes to sacrifice

Cost-sharing trend increases this year as prices rise by nearly 30 per cent.

SIALKOT: The trend of the cost-sharing for sacrificial animals has been rising in Sialkot and hundreds of people said that they would prefer to share the cost of sacrificial animals this Eid.

Dozens of people said that they had chosen to cost share the price of large animals due to the escalating prices of sacrificial animals. “The prices have practically doubled since last year,” said a resident Qasim Khan.

Several religious organisations and NGOs have also announced packages for cost-sharing the sacrifice ahead of Eidul Azha, saying that these packages have been offered for the welfare of the common man.

Most religious organisations have offered a package for cost-sharing sacrifice for cow at Rs6,000 to Rs7,000 per person and this includes the expenditure of hiring butchers on Eid day. “At least this way we know we can afford to pay the money and fulfill our duty,” said a labourer Munawwar.

Traders have set their markets on grounds in congested residential and commercial areas of Daska, Sambrial, Bhopalwala, Uggoki, Satrah, Pasrur, Chawinda, Badiana and other smaller tehsils. Local traders said that there had been nearly a 30 per cent increase in the price of sacrificial animals this year. The price of a normal sized goat was between Rs16,000 to 20,000 and the price of a cow was between Rs50,000 to 100,000.

“The high prices have been keeping people away from bakra mandi’s throughout the district,” said a trader.

Trader Khalid Iqbal from Mianwali said that the prices of camels had also soared and nearly 10 people were sharing the cost of one animal.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 31^st,  2011.