Eidul Azha teaches lesson of sacrificing personal desires
PESHAWAR (APP): As the joyous festival of Eidul Azha draws near, the spirit of sacrifice, devotion, and compassion has begun to resonate across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where bustling cattle markets, crowded bazaars, and emotional family preparations reflect the deep religious and social significance of the occasion.
Known as the “Eid Sacrifice,” Eidul-Azha commemorates the unwavering faith of Prophet Ibrahim (AS), who demonstrated complete submission to Allah’s command by agreeing to sacrifice his beloved son, Hazrat Ismail (AS) and slaughtered a sheep instead.
The tradition continues to inspire Muslims worldwide, reminding them of the values of obedience, patience, generosity, and empathy for the underprivileged and poor segments of the society.
Across Peshawar divsion, major cattle markets including Lala Kalay, Charsadda Road, Ring Road Hayatabad, Aman Ghar, Risalpur, and Pabbi have become centers of activity where buyers and traders negotiate prices of sacrificial animals under intense summer heat.
Amid the noise of bargaining voices and the smell of dust and fodder, Nasir Khan-a property dealer from Wapda Town, stood at the crowded Pabbi cattle market wiping sweat from his forehead with a white handkerchief while carefully examining goats and sheep.
Accompanied by his two sons, Nasir had spent the entire day by visiting markets in search of a reasonably priced sacrificial animal. Despite his efforts, soaring prices continued to frustrate him.
“For five consecutive days, I have been coming here hoping to buy a goat or sheep within my budget, but prices are far beyond the reach of people like me,” he told APP while negotiating with traders.
After several unsuccessful attempts to purchase a Kohistani sheep for Rs80,000, Nasir said he was now considering participating in a collective Qurbani arrangement with neighbors.
Like many middle- and lower-income families, he believed the economic pressures of inflation have made it increasingly difficult for ordinary citizens to fulfill the sunnah of sacrifice independently this year.
Apart from high prices, visitors complained about inadequate facilities at cattle markets, including poor sanitation, shortage of clean drinking water, and lack of shaded areas for protection from extreme heat.
“Thousands of buyers and traders are exposed to heatstroke risks due to insufficient arrangements,” Nasir said, urging the provincial government to ensure better management, deploy veterinary staff, and regulate prices through active monitoring by livestock officials and magistrates.
A survey conducted by APP at major cattle markets in Peshawar revealed that while visitor numbers remained high, actual buyers were relatively few as many families preferred to delay purchases in hopes of price reductions closer to Eid.
Cattle trader Ibrahim Sardar said that despite the arrival of large numbers of customers at livestock markets, sales remained slow due to inflation and rising temperatures.
“These days most visitors only inquire about prices and return empty-handed,” he said. “Government employees and pensioners are particularly cautious in spending this year.”
He added that many people with limited incomes were showing greater interest in collective Qurbani involving larger animals shared among several families.
Another trader, Ehtisham Khan, who transported buffaloes and oxen from Sahiwal and DI Khan, said transportation and fodder expenses had significantly increased the prices of sacrificial animals this year.
“Only 25 animals out of my 60 stock have been sold so far,” he said, adding that dealers also face risks of heavy financial losses in case of death of an animal due to heatstroke and livestock diseases.
Livestock experts have meanwhile intensified awareness efforts regarding animal health and disease prevention.
Dr. Aftab Ahmed of the Livestock Department, said veterinary doctors had been deployed to cattle markets to monitor the health of animals and immediately isolate suspected cases of lumpy skin disease.
He said that nearly 70 percent of sacrificial animals in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are brought from Punjab each year to meet public demand during Eid.
According to estimates by the Pakistan Tanners Association (PTA), over six million animals worth approximately Rs531 billion were sacrificed across Pakistan during last year’s Eid al-Adha celebrations, including cows, goats, sheep, buffaloes, and camels.
With scorching temperatures continuing across the province, many citizens are increasingly turning toward online animal purchasing services to avoid crowded markets and heat-related illnesses.
“I bought a goat online to avoid standing for hours in the extreme heat,” said Khurshid Khan, an employee of Govt Department from Nowshera. “Although online prices are slightly higher, health and convenience matter more.”
Despite economic challenges and rising costs, the religious spirit of Eid remains strong among people from all walks of life in Pakistan.
Maulana Tayyub Qureshi, Chief Khatteeb KP said the true essence of Eid al-Adha lies not merely in the slaughter of animals, but in sacrificing selfishness, greed, and personal desires for the collective good of society.
They emphasized that the festival teaches Muslims to support the poor, strengthen bonds of brotherhood, and promote compassion and social harmony.
As preparations continue in homes, markets, and mosques across the country, the timeless message of Eid al-Adha remains as relevant as ever that a prosperous and peaceful society can only be built through sacrifice, empathy, unity, and shared responsibility.
