Inflation dampens Eid cattle trade in Mardan

MARDAN   –  Livestock markets across Mar­dan are witnessing a subdued cattle trade ahead of Eid-ul-Adha, as soaring inflation and rising transportation costs continue to affect both traders and buyers.

A survey conducted by The Nation found that despite the usual bustle in cattle markets, the sharp increase in the pric­es of sacrificial animals has significantly reduced purchas­ing activity this year.

Traders said animals had been brought from various dis­tricts, particularly Punjab, but business remained sluggish compared to previous years.

They attributed the unu­sually high prices to rising fuel costs, expensive fodder and increased transporta­tion charges, saying the re­cent hike in petroleum prices had sharply raised the cost of bringing animals to local mar­kets.

“People visit the markets and like the animals, but most return without making a pur­chase after hearing the pric­es,” a trader said.

Another trader said many sellers had expected prices to decline following the closure of the Afghan border, but the anticipated reduction did not materialise.

Traders said a large number of animals were still awaiting sale, while the cost of main­taining livestock had also in­creased considerably. They claimed that feeding a sin­gle animal now costs around Rs1,000 per day, placing an additional burden on both traders and prospective buy­ers.

They also expressed con­cern that buyers were de­laying purchases in the hope that prices would fall closer to Eid, although traders believed such expectations were unre­alistic due to limited supply and mounting expenses.

According to cattle dealers, quality animals could disap­pear from local markets a day before Eid as unsold livestock might be shifted to other cit­ies through private sales ar­ranged via mobile phones and social media platforms.

Meanwhile, buyers com­plained that inflation had se­verely weakened their pur­chasing power, making it increasingly difficult not only to buy sacrificial animals but also to bear the expenses of their upkeep and fodder.

Although livestock markets are witnessing the traditional Eid rush, traders and buyers alike appear burdened by eco­nomic pressures, casting un­certainty over the scale of cat­tle sales in the coming days.