High prices putting customers off buying sacrificial animals ahead of Eid al-Adha

With Eid-ul-Adha just a few days away, the buying of sacrificial animals is yet to reach the extreme frenzy of previous years.
This is because for many customers, the price of cattle is simply too high.
Karachi's main cattle market, which is the biggest in all of Pakistan, usually attracts cattle owners from all over the country.
It is famous for the large variety and quantity of cattle on offer, as well as prices that will suit all kinds of buyers.
This year, however, with the economy in distress and purchasing power on the wane, the situation is comparatively grim.
At the market, most buyers complained that the increase in prices has even exceeded the usual inflationary trends seen in other goods.
One buyer, Naseer-ud-Din, told AP Television on Friday that he had spent six hours looking around the market for a sacrificial animal, but had yet to find the right one.
"If you talk in percentages, the prices of cattle have increased by around 20 percent compared to last year. So, you see, we have been trying, with my kids with me as well. So, we are trying, as making a sacrifice is an obligation. We are hopeful; God will help us in this. We will buy a cow. We have been looking. We have even found some cows that we liked but their prices are so high that they are out of our price range," he explained.
Cattle owners, meanwhile, say that they have no other option but to increase prices as there has been an exponential increase in the cost of animal feed.
According to Muhammad Akram, raising an animal can be very expensive.
"I have invested a lot in raising this animal. I have invested around 350,000 rupees (3300 US dollars). We feed him various kinds of beans, oatmeal, butter, etcetera. We also made them drink milk. Then we also feed them various specialised food items that are imported. We feed them well; their rations are pretty good. The food we feed them is as good in quality as what we humans eat," said Akram, as he showed off one his most expensive cows.
Buyers, however, remain sceptical.
They insist that the increase in prices is unjustified and exploitative.
According to one buyer, Fazlur Rehman, it is the prices that are keeping people from buying animals.
"The animals are very expensive; the good ones in particular are extremely costly. And we can see that there are fewer people around. This place is extremely crowded during such times but it isn't as crowded this time around. Maybe the reason for this is that the animals are very expensive," said Fazlur Rehman.
According to him, by waiting till the last moment, the buyers are hoping that the cattle owners will have no choice but to slash prices as the cost of maintaining and feeding the animal cuts into their profits.
It remains to be seen over the next few days whether there will be the usual frenetic buying activity and excitement associated with Eid-ul-Adha.
But for now, there is a darkening on the horizon for buyers and sellers alike.


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