09 February 2004	Monday	17 Zilhaj 1424

KARACHI, Feb 08: Temperatures in Karachi hovered around 11 degrees Centigrade for well over a week. Being irrepressibly 'hot blooded', such cool temperatures are not what Karachians are used to and the chill in the air compelled many to stay indoors during the pre-Eid days when shopping and street hopping add to the merriment of the moment.

Inquiry reveals that the clothes and accessory markets were left rather despondent concerning the revenues that came in this year, as sales were much below the usual levels. In fact, the lower- and middle-income groups, who enthusiastically spend from their meagre monthly pay packets especially at Eid times, stayed far away from the markets.

Till two days prior to Eid when the markets are usually abuzz with shoppers till well past midnight, there was hardly any activity seen after sunset this Eidul Azha. As for the sale of sacrificial animals, well, what with the bird flu fixation prevalent in the city, many even stayed away from goat meat as well - just in case.

It bears some thinking, though, as to why business was so low this year. Inflation is the obvious explanation. And the situation does not augur too well for Karachi. The disparity gap has reached such a high that whereas the poor live in a hand-to- mouth situation, there are those also (and they form a large group) who could spend Rs85,000 on a cow and Rs20,000 on a goat.

The dull Eid ambience was also because the middle- and lower-income groups cut down on personal expenses and by compromising on the purchase of new clothes, shoes, etc, for Eid, they saved enough for the preposterously pricey sacrificial animals. The devoted had to plunge deep into their savings to deal with the high prices of livestock in the city.

But the price of animals is related to other factors, also. Scarcity of animals coming into Karachi was mentioned as one reason. Some said that the pricing and maintenance mechanism relating to sacrificial animals had deteriorated in the past four years because of bad management and unequal disbursement of allowances. Whatever the reason, many salaried people had to forego the Qurbani this year.

Karachi has always enjoyed a healthy of livestock business. According to estimates, more than seven million litres of milk are produced daily in Sindh and about 20,000 animals are slaughtered every day, with the major portion being consumed in Karachi. But the Sindh government spends a nominal amount on the management and health-care of animals.

Information reveals that in the provincial livestock and fisheries department, budgetary allocations for the animal husbandry wing is around 95 per cent for salaries and allowances, with only five per cent left for maintenance and healthcare.

It is thus obvious that proper attention has never been given to the health and management of the animals. With our chicken business suffering a major setback, wouldn't it be prudent to re-assess the state of the livestock department and outline a new budget policy to upgrade the health of the animals? It is being said that if our animals' health is not properly looked into, Pakistan might lose whatever share it has so far had held in the export market.

And not only health policies, but livestock traders working covertly to 'fix' meat prices - whether for sale of goats/cows or for the sale of raw meat to the public - need to go under minute scrutiny for their tactics. It is a criminal to deprive the general public of healthy food by raising price levels to such an extent as to make meat only the rich man's food.

Eid time - especially Eidul Azha - is when Muslims are all supposed to meet as equals no matter which income group they belong to. Ironically, in Karachi, this Eidul Azha, the picture of inequality appeared sharper normal.