The situation in Karachi, a few days before Eid-ul-Azha, disrupted the transport chain that had potential to disturb the economic matrix when stakes were high. The Eid economy of a whooping Rs90 billion (estimated) offers a variety of opportunities with the market rewarding graciously the enterprising ones.

The way situation developed, a few cattle dealers from Mirpurkhas contacted by Dawn did not see any immediate impact on the market. The informal cross border trade of cattle, especially cows is said to be rampant in border areas of Sindh. The big volume of trade indicates connivance of law enforcers on both sides of the border. A source told Dawn that law enforcers on the either side turn a blind eye for a price.

Qadir Bux, a young enterprising school teacher of Thatta who maintains a small cattle farm for his customers in Karachi, thanks his stars for not giving in to temptation of transporting animals to Karachi for a higher premium. “Beside logistic problems, a delay in delivery could have cost me the trust of my clients”, he said.” I have to provide quality service, enabling me to be referred to new clients in Karachi”.

This year he expected to make no less than Rs2000-3000 per animal that was raised along with those he reared for a monthly fee. Qadir pounces on every opportunity to supplement his regular monthly income that is too meagre.

The inter-city and intra-city transport is the anchor of the Eid-ul-Azha economy.

The economy of Eid-ul-Azha, an Islamic festival, commemorating the sacrifice of prophet Ibrahim, seems to be the most dynamic of all other celebrations in generating business and temporary employment. The quantum of economy estimated at around Rs90 billion, is stated to be at least 20 per cent bigger than that of Eid-ul-Fitr. This is despite the fact that the total number of people who shop are less as compared to Eid-ul-Fitr.

The estimate (beside other random estimates) is based on the study of Dr Syed Waqar Hussain of the Institute of Management Sciences Peshawar, titled ‘Poverty alleviation: the redistribution impact of the practice of animal sacrifice on rural economy’. According to the study “.the total number of animals slaughtered in 2007-08 Eid-ul-Azha was 5.5 million heads. The total value of these animals at the prevalent market price amounted to Rs80 billion”.

On Eid-ul-Fitr, the key beneficiary of spurt in spending are urban traders and producers of consumer items. On Eid-ul-Azha, however, it is the rural Pakistan that raises sacrificial animals and receives the major chunk of the spending.

An informal survey of markets in Karachi and input from Dawn correspondents in other cities revealed that family spending is focused on Qurbani, unlike Eid-ul-Fitr when the major chunk of shopping is on dresses, shoes, jewellery and other personal affects.

The business has been dull so far on security concerns. The stakeholders, however, expect brisk business activity before Eid that they expect would more than make up for the lost time.

As expected Karachi attracted most cattle traders not only from rural Sindh but beyond as the city’s middle and upper classes have always been on the forefront as buyers. Lahore is said to be next in line where 230,000 animals were sold last year. According to an estimate, Karachi and Lahore share between them about 50 per cent of the total cattle sales.

“The number of animals slaughtered in the rest of Pakistan could be more than 50 per cent of the total but per head price is higher in Lahore and Karachi”, Abid Makhna, a cattle trader from lower Punjab told Dawn. He was not able to quantify number of people in the trade as, he said, for many it was a side business. He disclosed that there was a whole chain of middlemen between the original seller in remote areas and the ultimate buyer in cities.

A colleague from Nawabshah, Sindh told Dawn that to meet the strong demand many suppliers raise funds from acquaintances for two to three months before the start of the season by promising a return of 40-50 per cent.

Next to cattle traders, probably butchers make most during three days of Eid. They overcharge but there is no dearth of clients desperate to fulfil the obligation of sacrifice. The high demand encourages several novices to enter the field. There are several other Eid specific businesses that sprung up during these days. Transporters have already been mentioned. Trucks and other smaller pick-ups work round the clock. There are caretakers of animals bought by people who are either incapable or not inclined to handle cattle by themselves.

Hide collectors, animal feed sellers, animal doctors and makeshift stalls of other paraphernalia have sprung up all over the country employing people in thousands. Normally sale of freezers rise before the Eid as many people store the meat for consumption. With Eid hardly two days away, the market survey in Karachi, reported massive fall in the sale of deep freezers this year.

Anjum Nisar, President Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry felt that like elsewhere the festivals push economic activity to the next achievable level. “The multiplier effect of billions spent on Eid-ul-Azha is hard to quantify. It should suffice to say that beside earning blessings of God, they generate additional demand for a wide variety of goods and services”.