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High prices of sacrificial animals keep people at bay - Lahore_Real_Estate - 10-27-2010 02:42 PM
A majority of people may not be able sacrifice animals on Ed-ul-Azha over inflated rates which have increased by 50 to 80 per cent compared to the last year.
This year, rates of sacrificial animals are out of the reach of more then 50 per cent people while middle class will also be unable to participate in collective Qurbani (sacrifice) arranged by madrassas and societies.
There are many factors in high rates of animals, including inflation, smuggling, export of live animals from Pakistan and floods which badly hit the livestock sector of the country, mainly in KPK. According to a market survey, the price of an average goat of about 18 to 20 kilogram is from Rs 16,000 to 18,000, while a sheep of the same weight is available at Rs 12,000 to Rs 15,000. A good quality animal is in the range of Rs 25,000 to 30,000.
The arrival of small sacrificial animals has already started in the city and they can be seen in different localities. However, big sacrificial animals, like cows, calves and camels, will start arriving one week before Eid.
The price of an average cow and a calf ranged between Rs 22,000 and Rs 28,000 and a big animal is priced at over Rs 30,000. Only butchers or traders are purchasing big animals, expecting high prices on Eid.
People related to the livestock business are seeing a further increase in animal rates ahead of Eid. They said floods had badly damaged big animals which were one of reasons of high rates.
However, smuggling and export of live animals is the biggest factor in inflated rates of animals in local markets. According to the Pakistan Tanners Association, a huge number of live animals are being smuggled daily from Pakistan. Almost 5,000 big and 20,000 small animals are being transported illegally out of the country daily.
The export of live animal also played havoc with the local livestock sector. People from Afghanistan pay Rs 2,000 to 3,000 more than local buyers and move the animal legally or illegally from Pakistan to Afghanistan. They sell these animals in Afghanistan at three times higher rates than their purchase price. The lucrative margin in the business keeps them competitive and helps use all means to flourish. To get a permit, they also bribe people in ministries concerned and for smuggling they pay Rs 5,000 bribe for a big animal and Rs 1000 for a small animal to customs officials.
Inflation is another factor in the expected decline in Qurbani this year. High rates of utilities have badly affected every one’s budget.
Now people cannot save money to perform the sunnat of Hazrat Ibrahim (AS). People who arrange collective Qurbani have fixed the minimum share at Rs 5,000 to Rs 6,500 which was in the range of Rs 3000 to 4500 last year.