LAHORE, Oct 26: Hundreds of ‘raw-hand butchers’ are ready to slaughter sacrificial animals during three days of Eidul Azha starting from Saturday (today).

Lahore is the place where hundreds of thousands of animals are slaughtered on Eid, causing shortage of experienced butchers especially on day one. Keeping in the view the high demand and attractive returns, a large number of raw-hand or seasonal butchers arrive here every year from various districts of the province, including Sheikhupura, Gujranwala, Kasur, Nankana Sahib, Faisalabad, Okara and Sahiwal.

A number of such butchers reached the city on Saturday along with their family members. Carrying knives, axes, wooden chopping blocks and other material, the butchers were spotted alighting from intercity buses at Badami Bagh General Bus Stand.

They set up their temporary camps at some open spaces near Azadi Chowk (Ravi Road), Badshahi Mosque, Fort Road and some other places so as to roam the city for getting orders in advance for slaughtering animals.

“We have come from Sahiwal because a handsome return is offered here by the people,” Ghaffar told Dawn near Badshahi mosque after he reached the city with a group of over 100 butchers. Asked if he was a professional butcher, Ghaffar admitted that he and his fellows were not professional butchers but they knew the art of slaughtering, skinning and cutting of meat. He said his group charged a fixed rate --- Rs2,000 for goat/sheep, Rs5,000 for bull/cow and Rs13,000 for camel.

He said all his group members had got their knives and axes sharpened in Sahiwal to save their time in Lahore. He said group’s female members would collect offal by visiting door to door during Eid days in order to sell them in the market on a daily basis.

He said the annual festival always helped them earn a reasonable amount.

Fayaaz Ahmad, a resident of Multan Road, said these inexperienced butchers got the chance as every body wanted to get his animal slaughtered on the first day of Eid.

Sharing his last year’s `bad’ experience, Ahmad said a raw-hand butcher had spoiled his Eid. He said the citizens should prefer hiring experienced butchers.

Some raw-hand butchers have pinned plates on trees bearing their names and mobile phone numbers.

EXPENSIVE FODDER: Fodder and grains are being sold at the highest prices. People who have purchased sacrificial animals on higher rates are now being fleeced by fodder and grain vendors at sale points/shops set up at various spots in the city.

On Friday fodder was sold at Rs40 per Kg (Rs1,600 per 40Kg). On last Eid, its price was Rs10 to 15 per Kg. Similarly, Javi, that was sold for Rs20 to 25 per Kg last year, is now being sold at Rs40 to 50 per Kg. Grain (dana) was being sold at Rs80 per Kg.

“You cannot imagine how I am feeding my sacrificial cow I purchased a week ago as it consumes Rs1000 worth of fodder daily. He said the government should have a check on animal and fodder prices.

A fodder vendor said the wholesalers had raised the prices because of the arrival of so many animals in the city.

ANIMAL DECORATION: Children were seen roaming streets along with their animals after getting them decorated with various items such as colorful ribbons, chains and steel rings etc.

“Though it is not mandatory to decorate sacrificial animals, it shows the people’s love and affection for animals,” Sajid, a citizen, said.

ANIMAL SALE: Various city roads turned into small cattle markets on Friday after traders and vendors flouted the city district government ban on sale of animals at other than the designated points.