Camel markets spring up in City

LAHORE - Huge camel markets have sprung up in the City, offering camels as sacrificial animals a week ahead of Eid-ul-Azha falling on Saturday next.
The market can be seen at Bund Road, Sabzazar behind Bakr Mandi where hundreds of camels have been brought for sale. It seems that Lahorites now prefer camels for performing collective sacrificial ritual as compared to cows.
The prices of sacrificial animals are almost double compared to the last year’s prices. Though the prices of camels have sharply risen, while the camels so far bought in the City are attracting very little buyers. A camel manageable at the price of cow last year has gone out of the reach of buyers while the prices of cows have almost gone double. An average camel which could be purchased at Rs35,000 to 50,000 last year is now available at Rs60,000 to Rs100,000. A group of seven contributors have to pay Rs8,000 to Rs10,000 each for camel and Rs4,500 each for a cow.
An average camel produces 350 to 500 kilogram meat while a good quality camel can produce 800 to 1,200 kilogram meat. There were camels whose prices ranged from Rs2 lakh to Rs 4 lakh. ‘Maricha’ camel is being sold at Rs3 to 4 lakh while ‘Gada’ is another popular specie among the buyers. The tall, slim ‘Dachi’ in skin and white colour is yet another popular among the buyers.
The CDGL has abolished entry fee earlier imposed on the traders of sacrificial animals, but unscrupulous persons in connivance with the City District Government officials are extorting money as a rent for the sites allocated for the cattle owners although these are free. They charge Rs2,000 to Rs10,000 for the space occupied by them at Bund Road, Sabzazar, Kot Kamboh, Babu Sabu and other such sites. The locals have also given their yards on rent to the goat and cattle owners who have set up their sheds.