PESHAWAR
\nAs Eidul Azha approaches, the trade of sacrificial animals has gained momentum in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), with a steady influx of livestock from Punjab driven by traders seeking higher profit margins.
\nMajor cattle markets including Lala Qala, Pabbi, Risalpur, Ring Road, Taru, Charsadda Road, and Amangarh are now teeming with animals primarily transported from Punjab by inter-provincial dealers aiming to capitalize on the season\u2019s rising demand.
\n\u201cI brought five truckloads of animals from Punjab, and all were sold out even before Eid,\u201d said Mosa Khan, a cattle trader at the Pabbi market. \u201cNow, my brother is back in Punjab arranging for five more trucks based on the overwhelming demand.\u201d
\nAnother trader, Dilfer Shah, shared a similar experience and said, \u201csince last Saturday, I\u2019ve sold 20 buffaloes, 50 goats, and 15 oxen brought from Sahiwal,\u201d he said, optimistic that sales will peak in the final days before Eid.
\nWhile traders are seeing brisk business, the risks remain high. Heatstroke and diseases such as lumpy skin can lead to significant losses, forcing dealers to raise prices to mitigate potential setbacks.
\nIn the sweltering heat of Peshawar\u2019s Lala Qala market, 45-year-old property dealer Nasir Khan searched for an affordable sacrificial animal.
\nAfter hours of bargaining on Sunday, he left empty-handed. \u201cI came from WAPDA Town hoping to buy a buffalo within our budget. Prices are far higher than last year,\u201d he lamented. \u201cI\u2019ll return closer to Eid, hoping for last-minute price drops and maybe join a collective qurbani with neighbors.\u201d
\nTraders from Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan have flooded KP\u2019s markets, yet many visitors esoecially salaried class are simply price-checking and leaving in frustration.
\nAn APP market survey conducted on Sunday found that inflation, high transportation costs, and soaring fodder prices are discouraging many middle-income and salaried buyers, particularly pensioners.
\nAdding to the challenge is the intense summer heat, which has driven some potential buyers online. Digital platforms offering sacrificial animals with home delivery have gained traction, drawing customers away from traditional markets.
\nDr. Aftab Ahmad, Director of Livestock and Dairy Development KP, acknowledged the shifting trend toward online purchasing. However, he raised concerns over health risks.
\n\u201cLumpy skin disease and heatstroke are one of concerns this season,\u201d he said, adding there was no chance of the disease spread or outbreak.
\n\u201cWe\u2019ve deployed DVM veterinarians across key markets and set up checkpoints for health inspections and fumigation.\u201d
\nHe also noted that nearly 70% of the animals sold in KP during Eid come from Punjab. The situation is exacerbated by poor infrastructure\u2014lack of shade, clean drinking water, and sanitation facilities\u2014which continues to affect both buyers and traders.
\nRecent torrential rains have further disrupted the supply of local livestock to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
\nStakeholders have pointed to unchecked smuggling of animals, especially across the Afghanistan border, as another factor behind surging prices.
\n\u201cLivestock being transported and sold in Afghanistan for higher profits has tightened domestic supply,\u201d Haseeb Khan, a resident in Peshawar observed.
\nMany called for a regional agreement involving Pakistan, Afghanistan, and India to regulate cross-border livestock movement and stabilize local markets.
\nDespite these challenges, millions of Pakistanis are preparing to perform qurbani, an important religious ritual of sacrifice during Eidul Azha.
\nLast year alone, over six million animals were sacrificed nationwide, generating an estimated Rs531 billion, according to the Pakistan Tanners Association.
\nThis year, however, buyers like Nasir Khan remain hopeful\u2014waiting for either a miracle or a significant price drop in the final hours before Eid.
\nCivic activists and consumers alike are urging authorities to improve facilities at cattle markets by ensuring clean water, proper shelter, and regulated pricing to support the public in fulfilling their religious obligations.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
PESHAWAR As Eidul Azha approaches, the trade of sacrificial animals has gained momentum in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), with a steady influx of livestock from Punjab driven by traders seeking higher profit margins. Major cattle markets including Lala Qala, Pabbi, Risalpur, Ring Road, Taru, Charsadda Road, and Amangarh are now teeming with animals primarily transported from […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-482256","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-peshawar"},"yoast_head":"\n