Eidul Azha on November 17

Central Ruet-e-Hilal committee meets at Ministry of Religious Affairs, under chairmanship of Mufti Munib ur Rehman.

The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee announced on Sunday that Eidul Azha will be celebrated in the country on November 17. The announcement came after members of the committee reported the sighting of the Zilhaj moon.

As the Zilhaj moon has already been sighted in Saudi Arabia, the annual Haj will begin on November 15, members of the committee said.

The committee met on Sunday at the ministry for religious affairs. Mufti Munibur Rehman  presided over the meeting in his capacity as head of the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee.

Health concerns

Health experts have warned that if preventive measures are not put in place, Congo fever could become a grave concern with the arrival of sacrificial animals in urban centres for Eidul Azha. An official directed the district coordination officer to chalk out a plan to remove solid waste of sacrificial animals on emergency basis from the roads on the eve of Eidul Azha, besides directing all the executive district officers for health to ensure disposal of solid waste on immediate basis in collaboration with the administration of their respective districts to avoid any epidemic.

Price of animals

This year the prices of sacrificial animals have increased as compared to the previous year due to an increase in transportation charges and other associated expenses. The price of live bulls in the market has increased from Rs20,000 to Rs40, 000 per animal as compared to last year. The prices of goats and sheep have also increased by up to 25 per cent. The price of an A category goat/sheep has been revised upwards from Rs20, 000 to Rs30,000.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 8th, 2010.