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 hometowns. In several livestock markets, sellers have reduced prices of goats, calves, camels and sheep by 30 to 40 percent to ensure quick sales before Eid.
Livestock trader Ibrahim Qureshi said nearly 80 percent of the animals present 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 lightweight calves priced around Rs 150,000, while the sale of smaller goats also remained strong. According to him, the goats were sold for up to Rs40,000 in different markets.
Qureshi noted that prices had come down in many markets, but traders still found it difficult to sell heavier and more expensive animals at a price above Rs 500,000. He added that many deals were completed on the last day at reasonable prices.
He further said that buyers showed the most interest in smaller and affordable calves, while traders increased prices of light calves by Rs 20,000 to Rs 30,000 due to high demand. Suburban livestock markets hosted large crowds, while goats and sheep were sold at reasonable rates in Liaquatabad.
Late at night, festive scenes were visible in different parts of the city as children and young people walked around with sacrificial animals and took care of them. Meanwhile, many citizens have also reserved collective sacrifices for the second and third days of Eidul Adha.
