Skyrocketing animal, transport and butcher costs push middle-class families towards joint sacrifice
KARACHI:
Skyrocketing prices, rising fuel costs and rising transport charges have made individual qurbani (ritual animal sacrifices) increasingly difficult for people this Eidul Azha, leading to a sharp rise in the trend of ijtimai qurbani (collective sacrifice) in the metropolis.
According to traders, welfare organizations and mosque administrations, the prices of sacrificial animals have increased by more than 50 percent compared to last year, forcing middle-class families to opt for collective sacrifice arrangements through mosques, madrassas, welfare organizations and neighborhood groups.
Officials associated with welfare organizations told The Express Pakinomist that the deteriorating economic situation and rising cost of living had affected people’s purchasing power.
“Individual qurbani has become extremely difficult not only for the poor but also for the middle class,” said Imran-ul-Haq, head of a welfare organization’s qurbani department. “People with relatively stable financial conditions now prefer collective sacrifices rather than buying animals individually.”
He estimated that the trend for collective qurbani had increased by 30 to 40 percent this year. According to him, most collective sacrifices are performed during the first day of Eidul Azha, while smaller numbers are performed on the second and third days.
Animal traders said that sacrificial animals were brought to Karachi from various districts of Punjab and Sindh, including Sahiwal, Rahim Yar Khan, Tando Adam and Mirpurkhas.
Dealer Kashif Qureshi said prices varied according to breed, weight and appearance. “Lightweight cows are available from Rs120,000 to Rs180,000, medium-sized animals from Rs220,000 to Rs350,000, while heavy and attractive animals sell for up to Rs1 million or more,” he added.
Goat prices, he added, start from Rs 50,000, while sheep are priced between Rs 60,000 and Rs 70,000 or above. “People are looking for cheap animals according to their financial capacity, but the cost of feed, transport and labor has increased significantly,” he said.
Mosque committees and madrassas across the metropolis have introduced various collective qurbani packages ranging between Rs25,000 and Rs35,000 per share.
Muhammad Asif Iqbal, secretary of a local mosque, said most citizens booked shares at a price between Rs25,000 and Rs30,000. He said large mosques and madrassas collectively sacrificed hundreds of animals every year, while welfare organizations also distributed meat among deserving families.
He said the hides collected during qurbani were sold under government regulations and the proceeds were used for welfare and religious purposes.
Meanwhile, welfare organizations including Chhipa have also launched collective and individual victim packs. Chhipa spokesperson Chaudhry Shahid Hussain said the booking for collective qurbani continues, with most citizens opting for packages worth Rs 28,000 to Rs 30,000.
The increasing demand for sacrificial animals has also boosted economic activity in Karachi. Temporary animal feed stalls, transport services and care camps have sprung up in various localities, providing seasonal employment opportunities to hundreds of people.
Carriers said freight rates had risen by nearly 60 percent due to rising fuel prices. “The minimum price for transporting animals is now around Rs 4,000 and can exceed Rs 10,000 depending on the distance,” said transporter Imran Ahmed.
Professional butchers have also raised slaughter fees by 30 to 40 percent this year. According to butcher Kamran Qureshi, slaughtering a large animal on the first day of Eid can cost between Rs25,000 and Rs35,000, while goat slaughter charges range from Rs10,000 to Rs15,000.
He said a lack of experienced butchers had created opportunities for seasonal workers, many of whom offer lower prices but lack professional expertise.
The authorities have permitted 21 cattle markets across the city besides the Northern Bypass cattle market. However, illegal roadside animal markets have also sprung up in several areas, causing traffic jams.
The Karachi Commissioner’s office said action had been initiated against unauthorized cattle markets operating on roadsides and public spaces.
Officials at the Northern Bypass Cattle Market claimed that more than 60 percent of animal sales had already been completed and families continued to visit markets in large numbers during both day and night hours.
Despite the economic strain, Karachiites continue preparations for Eidul Azha, with neighborhoods across the metropolis witnessing heightened activity as families look after and guard their sacrificial animals late into the night.
