Soaring sacrificial animal prices keep buyers away from AJK cattle markets

MIRPUR, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th May, 2026) Skyrocketing prices of sacrificial animals ahead of Eid-ul-Azha have forced a large segment of consumers in Azad Jammu and Kashmir to stay away from cattle markets, with buyers complaining that inflated rates have made it increasingly difficult to fulfill the religious obligation of sacrifice this year.

A visit by APP to several cattle markets in Mirpur on Wednesday found thin attendance of buyers, many of whom were seen leaving without purchasing animals due to prices exceeding their financial capacity. Traders attributed the unusually high rates to rising transportation and fodder costs linked to increased petroleum prices, while citizens alleged that artificial price hikes and profiteering were further burdening consumers.

Residents and worshippers urged district and divisional administrations across AJK to intervene and ensure reasonable pricing of sacrificial animals so that people belonging to lower and middle-income groups could perform the “Sunnah-e-Ibrahimi” with dignity.

They called upon authorities to enforce market regulations and introduce effective monitoring mechanisms to curb profiteering ahead of the religious festival.

Representatives of various civil society organizations also appealed to the Government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and local administrations to take immediate steps to stabilize cattle prices in markets across district and tehsil headquarters. They stressed that affordable pricing was essential to facilitate citizens wishing to offer sacrifices on Eid-ul-Azha in accordance with their financial means.

APP/ahr/378