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PESHAWAR, Jun 06 (APP): Despite soaring prices, thousands of people thronged cattle markets across Peshawar on the eve of Eid ul Azha, driven by religious fervor and the annual obligation to perform Qurbani (sacrifice) in line with Sunnah of Hazrat Ibrahim (AS).
As the festival draws nearer, makeshift cattle markets have sprung up across the city, attracting sacrificial animals transported from far-flung areas such as Bhakkar, Jhang, Multan, Mianwali, and Sargodha.
The rush of buyers underscored the deep religious commitment among the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, for whom price is rarely a deterrent when fulfilling this Islamic ritual.
Markets resounded with the calls of oxens and goats, and were bustling with buyers—young and old—moving through the dusty enclosures, evaluating the last of the arriving herds.
For a few days, Peshawar takes on the look and feel of a rural town, as the smells of cow dung and hookah smoke fill the air, and animal handlers cook meals outside tents pitched beside their temporary stalls.
For livestock sellers, Eidul Azha offers a significant opportunity to earn a profit after months of raising animals. “Buyers are here, but they complain about the prices,” said Mosa Khan, a seller from Nowshera. At his stall, goats were being sold for around Rs75,000 on average.
“There’s been a sharp increase in prices this year,” he explained, attributing it to the rising costs of fodder, transportation, and other inputs.
In the bustling Ring Road cattle market, healthy oxens were priced between Rs350,000 and Rs500,000, depending on size and breed. Oxens were mainly sought by buyers looking for collective sacrifice options.
People from neighboring districts, including Nowshera, Charsadda, and Khyber, also traveled to Peshawar in search of animals. However, for many, bargaining remained a challenge amid the high prices.
“It’s difficult to buy even a goat individually,” said Mohammad Riaz, as he haggled for a bull at the Ring Road market.
Mosa Khan echoed the sentiment, citing key factors behind the rising costs: “Shortage of fodder, high transport fares, and taxes are the main reasons.”
According to the Pakistan Tanners Association, more than 6.1 million animals—worth approximately Rs531 billion—were sacrificed across the country during Eidul Azha last year, including 3 million goats, 2.6 million cows, and 87,000 camels.
Zahid Shinwari, former president of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), pointed to cross-border smuggling—particularly to Afghanistan—as a major contributor to the price hike. He proposed a tripartite export agreement between Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan to help regulate regional trade and meet domestic demand.
To ensure smooth operations, the Livestock Department has taken several steps. Director Livestock Aftab Ahmed stated that special checkpoints had been set up to curb animal smuggling, while safety sprays were being conducted in major markets to prevent the spread of disease.
As the eve of religious festival, buyers continue to brave the summer heat, dusty enclosures, and chaotic conditions in search of affordable options. Their recurring demand remains the same such as better facilities, stronger price control, and improved oversight for future Eidul Azha seasons.