CHITRAL: With Eidul Azha approaching, shopping activity has intensified in markets across Chitral, where people are thronging bazaars for Eid-related purchases.
However, traders and shoppers said the shopping trend remained weaker compared to previous years due to soaring inflation.
The residents said the sharp increase in prices of essential commodities, clothing and other goods had severely affected the purchasing power of ordinary people.
Meanwhile, cattle markets have also been set up in different parts of Chitral, but traders reported that the number of buyers remained relatively low because of the unusually high prices of sacrificial animals.
According to livestock dealers, two-year-old small animals are being sold for between Rs120,000 and Rs200,000, while large animals are priced between Rs230,000 and Rs350,000.
Similarly, small goats are sold for Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000, while larger goats are priced between Rs 50,000 and Rs 70,000, making them beyond the reach of many middle-class and lower-middle-class families.
Citizens said the prices of sacrificial animals had increased significantly compared to last year.
The residents also claimed that large-scale purchases by some charitable organisations and trusts had enabled traders to demand exorbitant prices in the markets.
Amid rising inflation, many middle-income families are now considering collective and shared sacrifices instead of individual sacrifices in order to fulfil the religious obligation while reducing the financial burden.
