Animals are being brought in large numbers from various districts of Punjab, as well as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Kashmir. With Eidul Azha just three days away, livestock markets have seen a surge in activity.
However, sharply rising prices have left many buyers disappointed and returning empty-handed. Citizens visit multiple cattle markets to compare prices, with extreme daytime heat shifting most of the activity to nighttime hours.
Goats are being quoted at over Rs100,000, while negotiations usually bring prices down by Rs5,000 to Rs10,000. Sheep range between Rs100,000 and Rs300,000, desi goats up to Rs200,000, cows around Rs200,000, and bulls from Rs300,000 to as high as Rs1 million.
Buyers say sacrificing an animal has become increasingly difficult due to inflation, with prices reportedly 50 percent higher than last year. The cost of collective sacrifice shares is said to range between Rs32,000 and Rs40,000 per person.
Livestock traders argue that rising fodder prices, transport costs, and other expenses have forced them to increase rates. Meanwhile, citizens raise concerns over inadequate security arrangements in cattle markets, pointing to poor policing, parking issues, and suspicious activity during nighttime hours.