Animal sacrifice declines

A DECLINING trend in sacrificing animals continued for the third consecutive year as around 4.5 to 5 million sheep, goats, cows and camels have been sacrificed by Pakistanis on three days of this Eid-ul-Azha as compared to 6 million animals last year. 
Increasing prices of animals due to multiple factors including inflation and poor government policies about exporting live animals and smuggling to bordering countries declined the slaughtering of animals this Eid again. 
Tend of slaughtering big animal, cows and calves was on rise due to high prices of goats and sheep and this year 50-50 ratio has been observed. Four decade back, only 10 per cent big animals were slaughtered on Eid-ul-Azha while 90 per cent share was of goats and sheep. Rapid decline in animal count was the major reason of increasing prices along with smuggling of live animals from the country. 
This year number of animals, which reached the markets for sale, was less due to floods in Sindh and continues smuggling and export. “Arrived animals were also immature as mature and healthy animals are being exported and smuggled to bordering countries of Pakistan.