Still unaffordable: A day before Eid, prices remain high

People who waited for rates to go down left disappointed.

RAWALPINDI:

While people thronged cattle markets a day before Eidul Azha in the hope of striking a bargain, prices of sacrificial animals remained stubbornly high.

Prices of bulls and buffalos range from Rs50,000 to Rs200,000, while for goats and lambs, sellers can fix any rate between Rs20,000 and Rs75,000 in cattle markets in Rawat and Dhoke Syedan.

“We purchase sacrificial animals a day or two before Eid to take advantage of discounted prices. But that was not the case this year,” said Muhammad Idrees who purchased a goat from Dhoke Syedan for Rs22,000.

Prices were expected to come down by Friday evening when sellers from Mianwali, Attock, Chakwal and other areas return home.

So far sellers have not lowered prices to cover travelling expenses and costs associated with keeping animals in cattle markets, said Gulraiz Khan who had brought goats and lambs from Chashma, Mianwali.

The city district government and Rawalpindi Cantonment Board levied heavy taxes. Sellers had to pay Rs200 to Rs300 per animal before entering the markets, Khan said.

Though the RCB auctioned the temporary cattle market in Dhoke Syedan for Rs2 million, no facilities were provided. Sellers had to pay for water for their animals and there was no electricity at night, said Raja Lehrasab Ali another seller.

There is no security in the cattle markets and fear of theft keesp us awake all night, he added. Sellers also complained about the absence of veterinary doctors in the markets

The sale of animals on the roadside at Adiala Road, Chakri and Dhamial and GT Road went unchecked despite the fact that the district coordination officer had imposed section 144.

Animal waste littered the roads.

When contacted, Municipal Services EDO Malik Imtiaz said staff would be available during Eid holidays to dump animal waste and offal at a temporary site near Soan Bridge.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 27^th, 2012.