PESHAWAR, Jun 03 (APP): With just three days left before Eidul Azha, buyers in KP are expressing growing frustration over the unchecked pricing of sacrificial animals.
In the absence of a formal price regulation mechanism, cattle traders are reportedly charging exorbitant rates, leaving consumers with little choice but to pay inflated prices in order to fulfill their religious obligation of Qurbani on this Eidul Azha.
Local cattle markets, including those at Lala Kala, Firdus, Pachagai, and Charsadda Road, are witnessing a surge in animal prices which are far beyond the reach of many middle- and low-income families.
Buyers report that oxen and cows are being sold between Rs300,000 and Rs250,000, while buffaloes range from Rs275,000 to Rs250,000. Even lean goats are priced steeply between Rs100,000 and Rs80,000—nearly a 50% hike compared to last year.
Fayaz Khan, a retired government employee who traveled from Nowshera, voiced his frustration after failing to find an affordable ox despite spending an entire day at Lala Kala market.
He said there must be a proper price control mechanism, adding the government cannot stand unaccountable for this situation.
In addition to high animal prices, buyers are burdened by extra costs such as market entry fees ranging from Rs600 to Rs1,000 per animal. Despite these charges, cattle markets reportedly lack basic facilities such as lighting, waste disposal, cleanliness, and parking which are further adding to public dissatisfaction.
Contractors managing these markets are being criticized for failing to provide adequate services, despite collecting hefty fees from both traders and consumers.
Buyers say the poor management and infrastructure at these temporary markets are unacceptable given the financial pressures already weighing on the public.
Meanwhile, traders attribute the price hikes to a combination of factors including high transportation costs, fodder prices, and contractor fees.
Ebrahim Khan, a livestock dealer from Nowshera, said that rising costs and the threat of cattle smuggling are driving up prices. “If the government takes serious steps to curb smuggling and reduce transport taxes, rates might come down,” he suggested.
Ali Kiyani, a livestock trader who transported cattle from Rawalpindi to Peshawar, acknowledged that the city’s location near erstwhileFata and Afghanistan makes it a more profitable market. “I brought 30 truckloads of animals and sold them all within a few days. Prices are higher here, and demand is strong,” he said.
Officials from the KP Livestock and Dairy Development Department estimate that over 200,000 animals are slaughtered across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during Eidul Azha. They noted that 60 to 75 percent of sacrificial animals are sourced from Punjab and Sindh, given local supply limitations.
To discourage profiteering and smuggling, several checkpoints have been established on routes leading into KP including FATA. Authorities are urging both traders and buyers to maintain hygiene and cleanliness in markets, especially in the lead-up to the Eid celebrations.
As the festival nears, public demand for price regulation and improved market management is growing louder, with citizens calling on the PTI-led provincial government and district administrations to intervene and protect consumers from exploitation.
