ISLAMABAD: As Eid al-Adha is just around the corner, the requirement for sacrificial animals has risen substantially, resulting in a steep increase in their prices in Pakistan. The inflation rate along with increased demand has been putting the consumers under pressure who wish to buy animals for their Qurbani this year.
Last year, goats of average size weighing around 25 kilograms, which used to produce about 25 kilograms of meat, used to be sold at a price range of PKR 50,000 to PKR 60,000. This year, however, the price of a goat of similar quality has been going up to PKR 60,000 to PKR 70,000.
This year, the cost of a good-quality goat weighing around 100 kilograms has increased slightly to a range of PKR 160,000 from PKR 150,000 last year.
Cattle prices, too, have gone up substantially this year. Last year, one could buy a good quality cow weighing three maunds, or about 112 kilograms, for PKR 180,000 to PKR 200,000. Even though a supply shortage caused by border restrictions would have kept the cattle prices steady, prices are expected to remain around PKR 200,000.
Throughout Pakistan, the share prices of bulls (per seven persons) range from PKR 28,000 to PKR 32,000.
Cattle farms can be found throughout Pakistani cities like Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Islamabad, where sacrificial animals are bred all year round. In these farms, top quality bulls cost anywhere between PKR 500,000 to PKR 5 million, and some specific breeds available in Karachi cost over PKR 10 million.
A welcome respite for the Pakistani citizens may come during the month of May 2026 in the form of multiple holidays that may coincide with official and weekends off together. The inclusion of Day of Takbir and Eid al-Adha holidays could increase the total holidays to 14-15 days.
In case of sighting the moon on May 17, Eid al-Adha would be celebrated from May 27 until May 29, thus resulting in five consecutive days off including weekend offs.
According to the announcement made by the Chairman of the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, Maulana Abdul Khabeer Azad, the committee meeting for the Dhu al-Hijjah moon sighting will take place on May 17.
