Eidul Azha is a religious event for Muslims; however, it also has tremendous economic implications, particularly for the livestock sector as a massive but uncounted number of animals comprising goats, sheep, cows, buffaloes and camels are offered as sacrifice.
Statistics are rarely, if every accorded importance in Pakistan and when figures are quoted to authenticate or negate a position, the general impression is that they are guess timates, not even estimates, let alone empirically verified data.
It is hence not surprising that specific and reliable statistics are not available about the number of animals slaughtered on Eid-ul-Azha or the money spent during the religious festival.
However, judging from what one sees around, hears from personal sources and gathers from newspaper reports, there is a reason to believe that the number of slaughtered animals is usually around 10 million-add or deduct a few thousand, their total cost running into billions of rupees. This, to say the least, is major economic activity.
But a totally disorganized and disorderly activity can be turned to the advantage of the state and people by planning, proper harnessing of resources and of course, and good management.
However, the idea of organizing this annual economic event for the benefit of all concerned, the government, breeders and customers, has never been considered at any level of the government.
The religious significance of the festival need not be stressed; it is not a moot point. But the economic aspect can be discussed because of its massive proportions and its impact on poverty alleviation, a component of the philosophy behind the festival that stresses the need for sharing with materially less endowed citizens.
That the meat is, to quite an extent if not more extensively, wasted, is not the issue. However, the distribution of the meat of a sacrificed animal is the responsibility of the individuals concerned; people try to ensure that the distribution is equitably done.
But its supply is in the livestock sector that falls under the administrative and managerial jurisdiction, indeed responsibility of provincial administrations. The administration keeps itself aloof from this aspect of the festival - indeed it is unaware of its potential and views the scene as if it is something happening in some other place and not in the areas it presides over.
The result is financial loss to the exchequer, missed opportunity for breeders and continuously rising expenditure for the people who can afford the cost but often by stretching their resources. It is an issue crying for organized management.
A few days before the festival, groups of small breeders start congregating in major urban centres to market animals they had bred for sale on Eid-ul-Azha. Many of them travel only to the nearest point to restrict overhead expenses while others with relatively bigger stocks come from far to centres where, in their opinion, the affluent reside.
Their assessment is correct because not only the rich but also citizens with comparatively limited means are determined to discharge the religious obligation to the best of their financial resources.
With the religious fervour at its peak at the time of Eid-ul-Azha, sales are brisk but marked by haggling as both sides try to take advantage of each other, the breeders to obtain the maximum for their stock and the customers to get a good bargain.
Breeders from rural areas live under open skies for the marketing period that can be spread over days and while a majority of them succeeds in disposing off the specially bred animals, the cost of sale, at least in a manner of speaking, is heavy: the breeders spend the festival away from homes and families.
Strictly speaking, they have no option but to miss the festival if animals are to be sold. This means that they have to endure personal hardship to reap a small benefit from their labour of a whole year.
This is an unfortunate aspect of the festival but consideration for human misery is sadly in short supply in our society and features nowhere in the official policies, commitment to poverty alleviation and tall claims to the contrary notwithstanding.
The sector is so disorganized and a majority of breeders so impoverished that even minor help would amount to a lot in their case; it can indeed be bounty for them.
The government of Punjab is currently concentrating on the livestock sector and has come up with a sizable financial package for promoting breeding and offering a chance to people to earn a decent living from livestock farming.
It is however, not a package that can benefit many of those already breeding animals and either living on income earned through them or supplementing their means by raising livestock on a small scale. Those who bring their animals to urban markets on Eid-ul-Azha mostly fall in these categories. The government's package is not addressed to them.
Can the authorities not allocate part of funds specified for the promotion of livestock breeding, specifically for Eid-ul-Azha? This would come up to only a fraction of the billions earmarked for investment in the sector and measures by the government in this direction would be a genuine effort to alleviate stark, grim poverty that marks the life of these people.
In the cities, sale points with some basic amenities for breeders should be established. Such points are already specified in a general way but they are open grounds fit neither for owners or animals for spending a few nights.
Breeders also set up camps wherever they find space. Their stay in these squalid environments and inhuman conditions negates the very concept of sacrifice and should be a matter of shame for all of us.
Provincial administrations can do two things with minor expense and almost routine administrative steps. A number of points in major urban centres are used for Friday and Sunday bazaars where many items of daily use are available at below the market rates. This has been done to provide relief to citizens. Why not extend the policy to breeders also?
Basic amenities can be built there for housing breeders and animals around Eid-ul-Azha; shopkeepers and customers can use these facilities the year round; they too should be considered eligible for decent treatment. The existing markets should be turned into permanent points.
The lands in which the bazaars are held should be protected from property acquiring mafia better known as 'qabza groups' that are generally seen as operating under the protection and blessings of civil, military and political officials.
Weighing scales should be installed in these markets for sale of animals as per their weight and prices of meat from different animals should be announced earlier in accordance with the market rates acceptable for both sellers and purchasers.
This would eliminate distrust and suspicions from both sides that they were being exploited or taken for a ride and assure them of fair dealings. Such steps should go a reasonable distance towards improving the lot of breeders and satisfy citizens at the same time. Meanwhile, the governments should devise policies to obtain maximum economic mileage from this event and give a boost to the livestock sector.
