KARACHI:
The buying and selling of sacrificial animals continued late into the night across Karachi ahead of Eidul Adha as citizens rushed to complete preparations for the religious festival.
A large number of people bought animals from the city’s 32 officially established cattle markets, including the main market, as well as several smaller roadside markets. Traders said there was a noticeable shortage of light calves, which remained in high demand among buyers.
On the last day before Eid, many livestock traders from different parts of the country sold most of their animals and started returning to their hometowns. In several cattle markets, sellers slashed prices of goats, calves, camels and sheep by 30 to 40 percent to ensure quick sales ahead of Eid.
Livestock trader Ibrahim Qureshi said that nearly 80 percent of the animals in the city’s cattle markets had already been sold, adding that trading activity usually continues until the third day of Eidul Azha.
He said most buyers were looking for light calves priced around Rs 150,000, while sales of smaller goats also remained strong. According to him, goats were sold for up to Rs40,000 in various markets.
Qureshi noted that prices had come down in many markets, but traders were still finding it difficult to sell heavier and more expensive animals priced above Rs 500,000. He added that many deals on the last day were completed at reasonable prices.
He further said that buyers showed most interest in smaller and affordable calves while traders increased the prices of light calves by Rs20,000 to Rs30,000 due to high demand. The cattle markets of the suburbs witnessed huge crowds, while goats and sheep were sold at reasonable prices in Liaquatabad.
Late into the night, festive scenes were visible in different parts of the city as children and youths walked around with sacrificial animals and cared for them. Meanwhile, many citizens also booked collective sacrifices for the second and third days of Eidul Adha.
