ISLAMABAD, Dec 8: Rain lashed the twin cities for the second consecutive day on Monday, dampening Eid enthusiasm among the people but failing to bring down the highest ever prices of sacrificial animals.

It was observed that due to unaffordable prices of the animals, the number of buyers as well as sellers in the temporary cattle markets was lower this year.

Many people, who went to these markets with their children, returned home disappointed as they could meet the high demands of the animal sellers.“I thought that I will buy a healthy goat at a price ranging between Rs5,000 to Rs6,000, but an animal of my choice was available at Rs12,000 to Rs13,000,” a government officer, Ahmed Karim, said.

Some of the sellers said export of cows, sheep and goats to the Middle Eastern countries and checks on the smuggling of cattle from India were the main reasons for the high rates of the animals this year.

The number of sacrificial animals brought from various areas was also lower as compared to last year.

Jamiatul Quresh Meat Welfare Association President Khursheed Qureshi said over 50 per cent of animals in the country were being exported to the Middle East, resulting in an increase in the prices at home.

An animal seller, Mr Rehman, said since the start of winter, Punjab had been the only province catering to the demand for meat in the country, adding that due to snowfall, animals were not being supplied from the northern region.

Another seller, Mr Jehanzeb, in the I-11/3 cattle market said last year herds of oxen, goats and sheep were seen in almost every corner of the city a month before Eid, but this year the response was quite poor.Average prices of goats and lamb remained between Rs7,000 and Rs8,000, respectively. A very limited number of sheep were brought to the market, with prices starting from Rs10,000.

The rates varied according to the animals’ size, breed, appearance and weight. Healthy goats and lambs were being sold for Rs12,000 to Rs18,000 each.

Similarly, prices of ox also remained high as these were selling in the range of Rs25,000 to Rs150,000 each. The asking rate for a camel started from Rs60,000.

A goat seller at the Saidpur village, who identified himself by his first name Mr Mahmood, said: “We are selling live goats at Rs300 per kg. I think the rate is very much in the reach of the people.”

It’s a very costly affair to bring these sacrificial animals from southern Punjab, as a heavy amount is spent on logistics, he asserted.

Raja Gulzar, 37, another goat seller belonging to Bhara Kahu, said the ongoing rain spell was keeping the buyers away from the market.

“After the rain, the best way to wrap the things up is to sell the goats by weighing them,” he said.

In the last one week, Gulzar sold 60 of the 100 goats he had brought from his village.

“The prices are fixed so you need not to bargain with the costumers. Just weigh it and sell it,” he added.

But still we are in loss, as we have to get the fodder for such a large herd on a very high price, Raja said. “We bought one kg of fodder for Rs40 and it’s very high” he concluded.

Amanat Ali, 63, who is buying sacrificial animal from Saidpur Village for the last many years, pointed out that: “I think it’s very cheap to buy a goat after weighing it.”

It, he said, cost you cheaper when you compared it with the lump sum amount (around R18,000) one paid for a goat.

A butcher said they had also increased their rates for slaughtering sacrificial animals. They were asking Rs1,000 to Rs1,200 per goat and sheep, and Rs4,000 to Rs5,000 for an ox.

Administrations of various Madressahs have displayed banners and posters at different localities for obtaining the hides. The CDA also announced its cleanliness plan for Eid.