LAHORE, Dec 11: Those who intended to buy sacrificial animals, especially goats and sheep, immediately after Eid prayers had to face an acute shortage of the same.

Many people who usually buy sacrificial animals a day before Eid or after offering Eid prayers complained that at almost all the sale points notified by the City District Government of Lahore, either there were no animals or the owners were demanding inflated prices.

The price being demanded for a ‘small goat’ was Rs20,000 which, otherwise, was available at Rs3,000, a rather shocked buyer said.

Reports say the traders transported the animals (goats and sheep) to parts of the NWFP, Afghanistan and Sindh after learning that high prices were being offered there.

“I visited all six spots in Lahore and also checked the Muridke market after offering Eid prayers, but there was not a single good-size goat available. Even the ones which are usually offered for ‘sadqa’ were available at extremely high prices,” said Muhammad Jamil of Qila Gujjar Singh. Big animals -- buffaloes, cows and camels -- were available in the market, but their prices were not affordable, he maintained.

The religious institutions like Jamia Naeemia which organises mass sacrifice also could not buy the animals from the local market in time owing to the shortage. They, however, sent teams to Bahawalpur for the purpose on the second day of the Eid.

Last year, the situation was otherwise, as a large of number of animals remained unsold.