A city official says the most popular sale point so far was at Shahpur Kanjran, which had been set up on 480 canals. PHOTOS: ABID NAWAZ, SHAFIQ MALIK/EXPRESS
High prices of sacrificial animals may force many to settle for window shopping.
Haseeb Ahmad, a resident of Sabzazar, says he managed to buy a goat for Rs28,000.
He says he had first gone to LDA Avenue 1 which was packed with expensive sacrificial animals. He says he bought a goat from Saggian for less than half the prevailing price at LDA Avenue 1.
Raja Usman, from Muhafiz Town, says he searched Bakar Mandi Bund Road for three hours for a reasonably-priced sacrificial animal.
He says traders were demanding more Rs30,000 for a healthy goat in Bakar Mandi.
He says if the prices did not come down, he would wait till Eid to buy his goat.
“When one has Rs17,000 in one’s pocket, one daren’t look at the goat selling for Rs35,000,” he says.
Seven markets for sale of sacrificial animals have been set up in the City. Aggressive buying has not been witnessed in any of these markets.
The prices are likely to go down the day after Eid, some traders say.
The Saggian market, which has a large number of goats on sale, has also been a favourite among shoppers.
Some buyers say dealers at Saggian are more open to bargaining.
Muhammad Hanif, a trader in Saggian, said that contrary to what some people believed, the prices had fallen over the last 10 days.
He said traders had been forced to cut prices as their herds were not selling for the prices they had originally set.
He said prices were expected to fall further if the same buying trend continued.
The animal sale points established by the city government are located at China Scheme, Aziz Bhatti Town Model Bazaar in Harbanspura, Shahpur Kanjran on Multan Road, Wagha Town, Nishtar and Gulberg towns, Kachi Mandi at Main Ferozpur Road and Data Ganj Baksh and Ravi towns across Saggian.
The DCO issued instructions to all town administrators to impose fine on traders selling animals at any other point in the city.
Despite the restriction, illegal sale and purchase of animals were witnessed in the city in Johar Town, Township, Multan Road and several other areas.
The city government had also launched a free shuttle service taking buyers to the animal markets.
A city official says the most popular sale point so far was at Shahpur Kanjran, which had been set up on 480 canals.
Staff Officer to DCO Tariq Zaman says some markets have spilled out on to private land.
He says those operating in markets authorised by the city government have been provided the facilities as promised.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 14th, 2013.
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