RAWALPINDI: Purchase of sacrificial animals in the garrison city picked up pace on the eve of Eidul Azha, which otherwise had been slow due to high prices and sizzling hot weather.

While visiting the city bazaars, one could see herds of cows, bulls, sheep and goats in Raja Bazaar, Sarafa Bazaar, Banni Chowk, Saidpur Road, Pirwadhai and adjoining areas in the morning.

According to most buyers, they had been avoiding purchasing sacrificial animals as it was difficult to keep them in the house in hot weather. Besides, high prices was another reason.

This year many people preferred sharing in cattle instead of buying goats or sheep. Cow, bull or camel has seven shares whereas the smaller animals have only one share.

The trend of sharing in sacrificial animals has been increasing for the last few years as the purchasing power of people is getting affected with each passing day.

“The price of goat and sheep has increased but that of a bull or cow has not. The price range of a healthy cow starts from Rs180,000 and goes up to Rs200,000,” said Mohammad Azam, a buyer at the cattlemarket in Bhatta Chowk.

“The high price of goats and sheep was due to the shortage of these animals,” he said, adding that this year, the size of the goat was also not big.

Aziz Ahmed, a resident of Arya Mohallah, said he had bought a cow from Kallar Syedan, and advised people to buy cow or a bull and share the cost with other relatives.

Nisar Ahmed, a resident of Chaklala Scheme-III, bought a cow for Rs220,000 from Bhatta Chowk. He said that with most people facing financial difficulties, sharing system was beneficial.

A customer at Rawat said he had been looking for a healthy sheep but found none. He then settled for a cow - the cost of which he would share with his brothers.

On the other hand, sellers were worried and said they do not want to go back with their animals. They said most people were offering less price which was not worth it.

“In the hot weather, it is difficult to keep the animal healthy. We were careful so that the animal does not get fever in the hot weather. The administration failed to provide enough facilities like water in the sale points and cattle markets,” said Mohammad Ibrahim, who came from Sahiwal to sell his animals.

Mohammad Jamil, a vendor at Bhatta Chowk, said the cantonment board did not provide water and other facilities in the market. “We had to get water from adjoining areas for our animals,” he said.

Published in Dawn, June 17th, 2024