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Arab News
5 days ago
- Business
- Arab News
Soaring prices put damper on Eid Al-Adha sales at Asia's largest cattle market in Karachi
KARACHI: The Eid Al-Adha festival should be the busiest time of the year at Asia's largest cattle market in Karachi's Sohrab Goth area. But soaring prices have driven away many of the people who would usually buy cows and goats to sacrifice on the Muslim holiday. One of Islam's two main festivals, Eid Al-Adha marks the climax of the annual Hajj pilgrimage, when Muslims slaughter animals to commemorate the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim, or Abraham, to sacrifice his son on God's command, often distributing meat to the poor. But this year, people like Nasir Khan, 25, say higher prices mean they cannot afford to carry out the important ritual. 'I can't afford it this time,' Khan told Arab News, saying he had opted out of a seven-member group he had been a part of for years, which pooled money to buy sacrificial animals as a collective activity. This year, the price of an average-sized cow or bull at the Sohrab Goth market had risen by around 94 percent to Rs330,000 [$1,201], said Abdul Jabbar, another buyer who did not disclose his age or profession and had decided against buying once he discovered the steep prices. On a hot afternoon earlier this month, Jabbar strolled through the Karachi market as hundreds of cattle sat idle under makeshift tents. 'The price trend is very high, almost double from last year,' he said. 'The animal we had bought at Rs 170,000 ($611.51) last year is now up for sale at as much as Rs330,000 ($1,187.05).' 'MEAT EXPORTS' Inflation in Pakistan peaked as high as 38 percent in May 2023. In May 2025, it rose to 3.5 percent, following a significant drop to 0.3 percent in April. But while food and fuel prices have somewhat decreased, financial experts say the prices of sacrificial animals have gone up, mainly due to increasing meat exports. In the fiscal year 2023-24, Pakistan's meat exports reached a record $512 million, a 20 percent increase from the previous year. This growth was driven by a 24 percent increase in export volume, reaching 123,515 tones. While the majority of Pakistan's meat production is consumed domestically, the country has seen significant growth in exports, particularly to Gulf Cooperation Council countries, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Indonesia, and China. Increasing meat exports reduces the number of cattle available domestically and during Eid Al-Adha season, when demand is seasonal and peaks sharply, supply becomes constrained. 'Price hike is due to meat exports and inflation in previous years,' Ahsan Mehanti, chief executive officer at Arif Habib Commodities Limited, explained. 'We have seen that there is a major increase in the export of livestock in the past three years, around more than 50 percent.' Zaki Abro, a spokesperson for the Sohrab Goth cattle market, attributed the surge in prices to the availability of fewer animals due to thousands being killed in recent floods. In 2022, Pakistan experienced devastating floods that resulted in the loss of over 1.1 million livestock. This figure includes approximately 500,000 livestock in Balochistan, over 428,000 in Sindh, and over 205,100 in Punjab provinces. 'On average the prices of small animals have risen by as much as Rs20,000 [$71.94] while the big animals have gone pricier by Rs 70,000 [$251.80],' Abro said. 'MARKET IS DULL' The effects of high prices were visible at the Karachi cattle market last week, with few buyers present despite it being spread over an area of around 1,200 acres and 175,000 cattle up for sale. Livestock merchants Muhammad Ismail and Obaidullah confirmed a drop in the number of buyers. 'We have a lot of animals still unsold,' Ismail, 26, said. 'This could be maybe because of inflation.' The traders blamed the high rates they were charging on the higher rates they had to pay wholesalers and the cattle market's administration. The cost of animal feed had also sky-rocketed, they said. Global supply chain disruptions, local market volatility, inflation, and currency devaluation have all contributed to this rise. The cost of fodder had surged by nearly 50 percent, impacting cattle farming, merchants said. 'Our eight to nine months farming cost for each of these animals this year increased to Rs250,000 [$899.28] from Rs150,000 [$539.57] a year ago,' Ismail explained. Trader Obaidullah said sellers also had to pay a fee of Rs30,000 [$107.91] per animal to the cattle market authorities. 'Last year the market performed well,' Ismail added. 'All of our animals had sold out. More than half of the market had emptied by this time last year. This year the market is dull.'
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Gunmen kill police officer assigned to guard polio workers in northwestern Pakistan
PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — Suspected militants riding on a motorcycle shot and killed on Wednesday a police officer assigned to protect polio workers in a region in northwestern Pakistan bordering Afghanistan, the latest in a string of deadly attacks on polio workers. The attack in Bajur, a district in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and a former stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban, came just days after authorities launched the vaccination drive. Police official Nasir Khan said an investigation was underway. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. More than 200 polio workers and police assigned for their protection have been killed in Pakistan since the 1990s, according to health officials and authorities. Pakistan and neighboring Afghanistan are the only two countries where polio has not been eradicated. Pakistan reported at least 74 cases in 2024 and two cases since January. Pakistan regularly launches campaigns against polio despite attacks on the workers and police assigned to the inoculation drives. Militants falsely claim the vaccination campaigns are a Western conspiracy to sterilize children.
The Independent
19-02-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Gunmen kill police officer assigned to guard polio workers in northwestern Pakistan
Suspected militants riding on a motorcycle shot and killed on Wednesday a police officer assigned to protect polio workers in a region in northwestern Pakistan bordering Afghanistan, the latest in a string of deadly attacks on polio workers. The attack in Bajur, a district in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and a former stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban, came just days after authorities launched the vaccination drive. Police official Nasir Khan said an investigation was underway. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. More than 200 polio workers and police assigned for their protection have been killed in Pakistan since the 1990s, according to health officials and authorities. Pakistan and neighboring Afghanistan are the only two countries where polio has not been eradicated. Pakistan reported at least 74 cases in 2024 and two cases since January. Pakistan regularly launches campaigns against polio despite attacks on the workers and police assigned to the inoculation drives. Militants falsely claim the vaccination campaigns are a Western conspiracy to sterilize children.
Associated Press
19-02-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Gunmen kill police officer assigned to guard polio workers in northwestern Pakistan
PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — Suspected militants riding on a motorcycle shot and killed on Wednesday a police officer assigned to protect polio workers in a region in northwestern Pakistan bordering Afghanistan, the latest in a string of deadly attacks on polio workers. The attack in Bajur, a district in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and a former stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban, came just days after authorities launched the vaccination drive. Police official Nasir Khan said an investigation was underway. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. More than 200 polio workers and police assigned for their protection have been killed in Pakistan since the 1990s, according to health officials and authorities. Pakistan and neighboring Afghanistan are the only two countries where polio has not been eradicated. Pakistan reported at least 74 cases in 2024 and two cases since January. Pakistan regularly launches campaigns against polio despite attacks on the workers and police assigned to the inoculation drives. Militants falsely claim the vaccination campaigns are a Western conspiracy to sterilize children.
Express Tribune
14-02-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Customs officials, chamber president kidnapped in K-P
Listen to article Unidentified assailants kidnap two Pakistan Customs officials and the president of a local Chamber of Commerce in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on Thursday, escalating the region's ongoing security challenges. The abductions occurred in the South Waziristan district, an area known for its increasing instability amid a deteriorating security situation in the region. According to Deputy Commissioner Nasir Khan, the incident took place in the Sholam area while the victims were returning from Angor Adda. The kidnapped individuals were identified as Customs Superintendent Nisar Abbasi, Inspector Khushal, and Saif-ur-Rehman, the president of the Waziristan Chambers of Commerce. The motive behind the kidnapping remains unclear, but authorities suspect the involvement of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a militant group that has been increasingly active in KP since the collapse of a fragile truce between the Taliban and the Pakistani state in November 2022. The TTP, along with other militant groups, has been targeting security personnel, government officials, and civilians in a series of violent attacks, including targeted killings and abductions. The kidnapping of these officials is the latest in a series of incidents that have plagued the region. Recently, Dr. Nauman, a worker with the Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS), was abducted in the Azam Warsak area of South Waziristan. Additionally, on January 9, the Pakistani Taliban kidnapped over a dozen workers from the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) in Lakki Marwat, though some have since been released. While no group has claimed responsibility for the latest abduction, local authorities have heightened their suspicion of the TTP's involvement, as the group has been known to target officials and civilians alike. The district administration and police have initiated an investigation into the matter. The surge in militancy and abductions has raised concerns over the deteriorating security situation in KP. Islamabad has repeatedly accused Afghanistan of harboring militant groups that operate across the border, intensifying Pakistan's security challenges. Afghan officials, however, deny these allegations, asserting that Pakistan's internal security issues should be addressed domestically. Authorities continue to work on resolving these high-profile kidnappings, but the growing threat posed by militant groups in the region remains a significant concern for Pakistan's security and stability.
