Prospective buyers of cattle have raised concerns surrounding the lack of health measures along with sellers attempting to charge extortionate prices for sacrificial animals. According to reports Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa is especially hard hit by such matters, with animal health experts outlining key issues plaguing markets.

Reports reveal that authorities in Peshawar have allocated two areas of the city to markets for Eid-ul-Adha. One of these markets is in Lala Kalay with the second one being located on the ring road. Both markets source their animals from various regions of Punjab such as Dera Ghazi Khan and Multan.

However, the absence of oversight in markets has allowed livestock traders to add a significant premium to the prices of their animals. This has caused buyers to run into significant issues who did not anticipate having to pay exorbitant sums of cash for livestock.

In an interview with a reputable English news organization, a prospective buyer of cattle visited the Ring Road market in Peshawar. However, to his dismay, he found out that animal prices have ballooned significantly over just one year.

Details from the interview suggest that livestock that used to be priced at two to three lakh rupees is now being sold at a staggering three to five lakh rupees. More alarmingly, even goats and sheep are fetching one to five lakh rupees in the market, highlighting the magnitude of the overpricing issue.

As per reports, the livestock market requires that all traders pay a fee of Rs1,500 to enter the market. However, the public does not benefit from these fee payments as animals are not subjected to any form of health checks prior to their entry into the market.

This results in buyers remaining unsure whether the animal they are purchasing is fit for consumption. As a result, prospective buyers have no choice but to bring vets to the market if they want to ensure they make the right purchase.

These concerns are not limited to buyer only, as multiple interviewees mirrored the same concerns. An interviewee critiqued the government’s approach to the situation, outlining the subpar performance of the Livestock Department despite possessing adequate resources.

However, sellers defend higher prices, claiming that they purchased the livestock at inflated rates. They highlighted that they could not sell their livestock at a loss and require a fair margin for their efforts. 

Sellers cite an increase in transportation expenses as a primary reason for the higher prices for the cattle. However, it merits a mention that petrol prices stand Rs4.53 lower than Eid-al-Adha season in 2024, weakening the claim of sellers.