Kishore Ammanulla Khan lurs tall camels decorated with cheerful henna patterns to lure Eid-ul-Azhar customers at a market near the federal capital.
Hundreds of farmers have camped out for two weeks at livestock markets between Islamabad and its twin city of Rawalpindi, hoping to sell livestock ahead of the annual holy festival that began Thursday in Pakistan.
But with rampant inflation reaching a record 38 percent in May the markets are attracting smaller crowds.
Khan’s cousin Zakaria brought 18 camels to the market last year after making good profits but has sold only one so far.
“People’s purchasing power has run out. Buyers are not coming to the markets and those who come prefer to return empty-handed because of the high prices of animals,” said 21-year-old Zakaria.
During the festival, Muslims around the world will slaughter an animal a goat, sheep, bull or camel before giving a third to friends and relatives for themselves and a third to charity.
The centuries-old festival is guided by tradition, but this year many middle-class Pakistanis will not be able to make a sacrifice.
“We have the same income but the price is sky high. Where will we get so much money?” The buyer, a 46-year-old builder named Ali Akbar, asked.
Another customer, Zerak Ali, came to know the price of a camel, which can cost up to one million rupees ($3,500).
“It’s worth 700,000 to you,” Zachariah Barters. But Ali, a 56-year-old shopkeeper, led his two grandsons to the cheaper bullpen.
Camel sacrifice is not common in Pakistan, but some wealthy buyers prefer the animal because according to Islamic rules, 11 families can share its meat.
More than 250 camels along with thousands of bulls, cows, goats and sheep were brought to Islamabad market.
Bulls cost up to Rs 500,000, while goats range from Rs 50,000 to Rs 150,000. Zakaria’s profits are being eaten up by market taxes, rising feed and truck rental prices, as well as workers’ wages.
“I will lose millions this year,” he predicts uneasily.
Bakhat Zaman, a farmer in Pakistan’s northwestern Mardan district, brought 10 camels to the market and has so far sold only one for Rs 500,000.
“The value of the Pakistani rupee has gone down,” said shopper Haque Nawaz. “Who would buy such an expensive animal?”
