Sacrificial animals’ purchase could not receive attention till Sunday due to the preoccupation of the people with Basant celebrations.
The long wait of traders for buyers was over on Monday when the latter started arriving and negotiating the prices for making purchases. The traders also stopped demanding fancy prices and were willing to sell their animals after haggling.
The price of an average goat was reduced from Rs10,000 to Rs6,000 whereas a good animal could be purchased between Rs8,000 to Rs10,000. A good sheep was available for Rs6,000 and a cow and camel between Rs12,000 to Rs18,000.
The prices would come down on Tuesday (today) in case of arrival of more animals.
Buyers were seen examining the sacrificial animals and negotiating prices in all the markets in the provincial metropolis. Most buyers were showing interest in the purchase of goats, which were present in the markets in large numbers.
Sheep were also present in the markets in considerable numbers but were not in as great demand as the goats. Cows were also available for sale in limited numbers.
Quite a few camels were also being offered for sale.
Over 200,000 animals had already arrived in the provincial metropolis and more continued to pour in for disposal during the brisk buying spree to start on Tuesday (today) morning and reach its peak at night.
Animals had started arriving in the provincial metropolis since early last month and traders were seen moving around with the same in every area looking for buyers. Most people were, however, content only with asking prices because of considerable time available for purchase before the Eid.
Sacrificial animals were available for sale in large numbers at the following 25 spots earmarked by the City District Government for the purpose;
Aziz Bhatti Town: Both sides of Dharampura (Mustafabad) Main Road, Ghazi Road Jauray Pull, Main Walton Road, Bedian Road (Bhatta Chowk and Lidhar), Dogra Kalan (Burki Road) and Mianmir Shrine in Dharampura.
Allama Iqbal Town: Wahdat Road (WZ Studio), Multan Road (Bagh Stop, Ammunition Depot), Johar Town Trade Centre site, Raiwind Road open space near the Lahore University, Thokar Niazbeg vacant space near nursery, Sabzazaar (Liaquat Chowk) and Kot Kamboh Bakar Mandi.
Nishtar Town: Vacant plot near Township Civil Defence Office, Kot Lakhpat Theh Mor, Kahna Nau Ground, open space near Raiwind Town Committee office and open space near Chungi Amar Sidhu.
Data Ganj Bakhsh Town: Bund Road (Shera Kot), Sanda Road-Bund Road junction and Mayo Garden open space.
Ravi Town: Open space near Shahdara Match Factory.
Unauthorized markets of sacrificial animals have also come up at Daroghawala Chowk in Shalimar Town; Shad Bagh Gol Bagh, Data Nagar and Karim Park in Ravi Town; Wahdat Colony in Allama Iqbal Town; Kot Lakhpat Vegetable Market in Nishtar Town and Dharampura Mian Bazaar in Aziz Bhatti Town.
No special tax has been imposed on the entry of the animals in the district. The traders are required to pay only the prescribed Bakar Mandi Fee. They have been asked to inform the executive district officer (revenue) in case anyone makes an undue demand.
The City District Government has arranged distribution of 300,000 polythene bags in the city district through the Solid Waste Management sanitary workers for disposal of offals, intestines and other waste of sacrificial animals.
As many as 400 pickups are also being hired for two days for distribution among 150 union councils in the city district for the collection and disposal of the bags containing the sacrificial animals waste.