VEHARI, Jan 9: The people of Vehari and adjoining areas are showing least interest in the purchase of sacrificial animals owing to their exorbitant prices, according to a survey conducted by this correspondent here on Sunday.

Thousands of animals have arrived at the designated sale points in the district and sellers carrying their cattle could be seen on various city roads and other business places. The average price of a goat is higher than that of last year. Sellers are demanding Rs8,000 to Rs10,000 for an average size goat or sheep and nearly Rs13,000 for a healthy one. The price of an ordinary cow ranges from Rs25,000 to Rs30,000.

The low income class is finding it hard to buy a sacrificial animal. A teacher told Dawn that he wanted a goat worth Rs3,000 to Rs3,500 but the animal seemed to be unavailable in the market.

A group of buyers said they had been visiting the market for the last one week but could not buy even a single animal due to high prices.

Some markets were reportedly wearing a deserted look here on Sunday. Social and political circles have demanded that the district government should take measures to control the prices of sacrificial animals.