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Friday March 29, 2024

Sacrificial animals beyond buyers’ reach

LAHORE Prices of sacrificial animals have reached beyond the purchasing limits of the general public and majority of citizens visiting cattle markets are returning empty hands owing to the avarice of the animal sellers. City District Government Lahore (CDGL) had notified fixed sale and purchase points for sacrificial animals in

By Ali Raza
September 16, 2015
LAHORE
Prices of sacrificial animals have reached beyond the purchasing limits of the general public and majority of citizens visiting cattle markets are returning empty hands owing to the avarice of the animal sellers.
City District Government Lahore (CDGL) had notified fixed sale and purchase points for sacrificial animals in all the nine towns of the provincial capital but one can witness sale of sacrificial animals inside the city as well as on the roads.
As per the notification issued by DCO Lahore in August 2015, these points are Bakkar Mandi Shahpur Kanjran, Allama Iqbal Town, Bismillah Housing Society, GT Road in Wagah Town, LDA Avenue 1, Raiwind Road in Nishter Town, Banker Society near Kamahan Interchange in Gulberg Town and Bilal Town near Saggian Bridge in Data Town and Ravi Town.
It is pertinent to mention here that the DCO Lahore also issued SOPs for the sale and purchase points, according to which, these points should have secured entry and exit points, ramps for loading/unloading of animals, drinking water for visitors/animals, fodder places for small/large animals along with fodder cutter, animal sheds and seating place for visitors, masjid, public toilets, veterinary and human dispensary, complaint office/site office, canteen/restaurant, parking place, boundary wall/barbed fencing, animal washing area, directional boards, weighting bridge (Scale), information centre, generators, CCTV cameras, public address system, electronic display system/market information desk, security guards, name of focal person/incharge of mandi, contact number of focal person, decoration and beautification, lighting arrangements and installation of ATM. Ironically most of these SOPs are not followed or observed at majority of the sale points.
On the other hand, people involved in selling sacrificial animals are demanding very high rates as there is no price regulatory mechanism introduced by the CDGL. According to a survey conducted by The News on Tuesday, about 300,000 sacrificial animals are slaughtered in the city on every Eidul Azha. Out of the total number of sacrificial animals, 200,000 are smalls animals i.e. goats and sheep, while the rest of them are big animals, like cows, calves, camels, etc, says an official of CDGL.
The price of a normal size goat ranges from Rs18,000 to Rs25,000, a lamb/sheep from Rs15,000 to Rs25,000 and a cow/calf from Rs35,000 to Rs80,000 in most of the city markets. The sellers of sacrificial animals said that main reason behind high prices of animals this year are increased transportation costs as well as increase in prices of animal fodder.
Khalid Ahmed, a camel seller from DG Khan, said that rise in transportation charges, cost of breeding animals and bribe collected by the police and officials of various departments led to the increase in the animals prices. He complained that police had charged him Rs50 to Rs200 per animal in the name of Eidi at every picket on his way from DG Khan to Lahore.
Abdullah, a seller from Vehari said the price of green fodder had gone up from 35 to 40 percent while fare of a truck from Vehari to Lahore increased by 100 percent. “how can I sell my animals on a low price,” he said, adding that he was thinking of going back to Vehari as customers are not giving a good response to the prices.
The most affected of the high prices of sacrificial animals are the salaried and low income groups of the society and probably majority of them would not be able to perform this religious ritual due to high prices of the sacrificial animals. Majority of the customers visiting animal sale point at Kahna said the government should be controlling the prices but it has left the general public at the mercy of the sellers who are demanding very high prices of normal animals. Maqsood Shah, a resident of Gulshan-e-Ravi said that prices of animals have increased but the income was the same. He said white-collar citizens are facing the real dilemma as they wanted to buy the animal to fulfill their religious obligation but could not afford it now.
However, most of the citizens believed that high prices of sacrificial animals may come down in coming days because the sellers will not want to take back their animals. “Presently, the sellers are demanding high prices, especially of goats,” said Hamza, a resident of Johar Town. He said last year he bought two goats but it seems that he can buy only one this year.
Following the event, citizens have also started booking butchers who are also demanding very high rates. Citizens said butchers are demanding Rs2,500 to Rs3,500 per goat and Rs8,000 to Rs12,000 per cow while Rs25,000 for a camel.
Citizens have appealed to the chief minister to personally visit the animal sale and purchase spots made by CDGL to himself see the ‘facilities’ provided by the City district government to the citizens. They also demanded the government to enforce a price mechanism so that the citizens can get sacrificial animals on reasonable rates.