Sacrificial animals prices increased by record 60% this year

With Eid-ul-Adha just around the corner, cattle markets have been set up across the country for people to purchase cows, goats, sheep, or camels for sacrifice.

Asia's biggest cattle market has been set up at Northern Bypass in Karachi with hundreds of thousands of sacrificial animals up for sale.

However, the unyielding surge in prices across the country had a detrimental impact on the ability of a majority of people to afford sacrificial animals for Eid-ul-Adha this year.

As per the survey conducted by Dialogue Pakistan, the prices of sacrificial animals have been increased by 60 percent in the country.

A cow, which was being sold at the rate of Rs40,000 per mann last year, is now being sold at Rs100,000 per mann.

The cattle dealers also admitted prices of sacrificial animals had gone sky-high.

The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee will meet on Friday (June 7) in Karachi for the Zil Hajj moon sighting.

The moon sighting will mark the start of the holy month of Hajj, the month when Muslims from around the world visit Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj in Makkah's Grand Mosque and other locations in the city including Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah.

After performing the sacred pilgrimage the on Day of Arafat, the ninth day of Hajj, Muslims across the globe will celebrate Eid ul Adha on the 10th day of Zil Hajj.

Muslims in Pakistan are expected to celebrate Eid ul Adha, one of the two most important festivals of the Islamic calendar, on July 17, according to PMD. 

Animals such as cows, goats and camels are slaughtered to commemorate a sacrifice by the Prophet Ibrahim (AS) on God's command.