As Eid-ul-Adha draws near, the price of sacrifice animals in Balochistan has risen dramatically, with some reports citing price increases of up to 100 percent. Traders speculate that livestock losses from last year’s floods are to blame for this year’s price hike.
The floods, brought on by the monsoon season, were extremely destructive. More than 1,700 people died, 33 million were impacted, and $30 billion was lost. More than 900,000 animals perished, while crops and infrastructure were devastated across the country.
Animal business effected by floods before Eid
The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) reports that between June and December of last year, 328,832 livestock were lost in Balochistan alone. The floods immediately before Eid-ul-Adha have had a devastating effect on business for animal merchants in Quetta’s main bazaar.
However, shoppers have been complaining about the market’s exorbitant pricing and limited selection of desirable animal species.
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