The number of animals brought to the city’s main market is less than last year due to illegal roadside markets set up for selling sacrificial animals.
Around 200,000 sheep, goats, cows and buffaloes were brought to the main animal market off Superhighway which is much less than last year’s number of 250,000 t0 300,000.
Talking to a private media outlet, the cattle market’s administrator, Tahir Memon said that many buyers preferred to purchase animals from illegal markets set up on roadsides in various areas of the city instead of going to the main market off Superhighway.
He speculated that traders expected it to rain like last year which would have disrupted the activities of the market hence many procured animals from upcountry to sell at makeshift places and roadsides.
“The makeshift and informal sale points of animals are not only causing environmental pollution but they are also turning roads dirtier and causing traffic jams,” he added.
The prices of sacrificial animals have also seen a hike as the traders were charging Rs30,000-35,000 for a medium-sized goat and were not bringing the prices below Rs 25,000-30,000 despite bargaining. A goat of the same size was available for Rs 17,000-20,000 last year.
The traders were also seen demanding Rs 45,000 for a bigger goat and selling it for Rs 35,000-37,000 after negotiations. The bigger goats were sold at Rs 30,000-32,000 in 2017.
