KARACHI:
The buying and selling of sacrificial animals continued late into the night in Karachi ahead of Eidul Adha, as citizens rushed to complete preparations for the religious festival.
Large numbers of people purchased animals at the city’s 32 officially established livestock markets, including the main market, as well as several smaller roadside markets. Traders said there was a notable shortage of lightweight 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 native places. In several livestock markets, sellers reduced prices of goats, calves, camels and sheep by 30 to 40 percent to ensure quick sales before Eid.
Livestock trader Ibrahim Qureshi said almost 80 percent of the animals in the city’s livestock 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, the goats were sold for up to Rs 40,000 in different markets.
Qureshi noted that prices had come down in many markets, but traders were still facing difficulties in selling heavier and more expensive animals with prices above Rs 500,000. He added that many transactions on the last day were closed at reasonable prices.
He further said that buyers showed the most interest in smaller and more affordable calves, while traders increased the prices of light calves by Rs 20,000 to Rs 30,000 due to high demand. Suburban livestock markets witnessed huge crowds, while goats and sheep were sold at reasonable prices in Liaquatabad.
Until late into the night, festive scenes could be seen in different parts of the city, while children and young people walked with sacrificed animals and took care of them. Meanwhile, many citizens also reserved collective sacrifices for the second and third days of Eidul Adha.
