The dip in the practice of animal sacrifice this Eid was pretty obvious, and it was clearly because of the inflated prices of the animals. It is a shame that we haven’t even spared our religious customs from becoming means of unethical profit making. I, for one, could not afford even one of the modestly priced goats and had to make do with sharing the sacrifice to prevent a burning hole in my pocket. Although, we are used to escalating prices, but it is my humble request to the government that they should help an average man perform his religious duties; at the very least.
It is true that red meat price is high due to inflation in the country but this is one aspect of the whole story of animal sacrifice. Two other important factors, even more important than inflation, are (1) animal smuggling to Central Asian States through Afghanistan and (2) mass destruction of sacrificial animals in natural calamities like floods and quakes. Both factors toll for millions of sacrificial animals annually which cause price hike. Two further factors are worth to note which are called ‘legal’ but have economic repercussions and sky-rocketing contribution into prices. They are (1) inclusion of lot of mutton and beef in the diets of about 40% of the country’s population which exert lot more pressure on animal production and breeding practices thus cause a serious imbalance in demand and supply, and (2) establishment of modern red meat processing plants and modern slaughter houses in the country where quality meat is packed against high prices and more number of animal heads to meet a person’s demand. For further discussion please read my article in daily ‘Nai Baat’ being published on Eid Edition dated 27-Oct-2012 as well as browse my website http://www.dietcare.pk
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