LAHORE - Skyrocketing prices of sacrificial animals have reached beyond the purchasing power of the people and the trend to buy sacrificial animals is declining with the each passing day, a survey conducted by TheNation revealed on Monday. In absence of any price control mechanism by the authorities concerned of district government, citizens are forced to buy animals on the rates fixed by the animal traders. However, unaffordable prices of sacrificial animals not only spoiled the business of animals but also disappointed the citizens in order to follow their religious rights. It was witnessed that mostly buyers preferred to return home without buying animals while some buyers seemed reluctant even to bargain. Fazal Din, an animal trader, said that once the livestock business was on peak, people used to come with their families to purchase animals but now the trend to buy sacrificial animals is fading away with the passage of time. Perhaps, its due to uncontrolled price-hike in the country, increasing rates of animals and poor purchasing power of the people, he added. Fayyaz Ahmad, a trader said that prices of animals had almost increased from 30 to 40 percent as compare to last three years due to increasing rates of animal feed and other essentials which not only increased the overall cost but also damage the livestock production. The traders are selling goats at Rs 8000 to Rs 10000 which, in previous year, were available from Rs 5,000 to Rs 7000 and Rs 15000 to Rs 25,000 while cows are available from Rs 30,000 to Rs 200,000 depending upon the weight and breed. Whereas, the traders are of the view that rates of the sacrificial animals would further increase with each passing day due to the expenses for keeping them in the City till Eid. But, they are hopeful to earn reasonable profit because mostly buyers preferred buying sacrificial animals one or two days ahead of Eid. Giving reason of high prices of the animals, Riaz, a trader, said the prices had increased as the expenditures on animals feed and transportation had also increased manifold. Thousands of animals died due to worst floods in the country and caused massive shortage of animals besides causing an irreparable financial loss to the animal traders. This has proved a major reason for the raise in animals prices, he further added. Muhammad Ahmad of Kasur said the residents of big cities could easily afford to purchase animals with high prices which attract the vendors and they preferred selling their animals in big cities. However, a large number of animals are being brought to the City and traders are setting up their camps at the designated seven sale points - Machis Factory Stop Ground in Ravi Town, D-Block China Scheme Shalimar Town, Sukh Nehar to Salamatpura GT Road Wagha Town, Ghaziabad Bus Stop, Gawala Colony Aziz Bhatti Town, Bakkar Mandi Shahpur Kanjran Multan Road, LDA Avenue-I Raiwind Road and Allama Iqbal Town. Some of the animal traders are also trying to set up their own sale points in residential and commercial localities of the City while the District Coordination Officer Lahore Ahad Cheema ordered the officials to take strict legal action against the vendors in case of any violation in this regard.