OUR STAFF REPORTER SIALKOT - The trend of collective sacrifice is gaining momentum in Sialkot as the prices of sacrificial animals have risen considerably in the wake of floods. Many people say that the prices of sacrificial animals are much higher as compared to last year. They say that the prices are out of their reach, so they have opted to share a collective sacrifice. Bearing this very situation in mind, several religious organisations and NGOs have already announced packages for collective sacrifices ahead of Eidul Azha. These packages have been devised to facilitate the people in observance of their religious obligation. In a package for cost-sharing sacrifice of a cow offered by religious organisations, one could easily contribute a sum of Rs6,000-Rs7,000. Some daily-wage people say that these packages are very lucrative, as they can afford such an offer at the time when inflation is running high that has almost put all the things out of their reach.Traders claim that there was almost 30 per cent increase in the prices of sacrificial animals as compared to last year. They admit that it has become very hard for the common man to perform the religious obligation. A survey of different cattle market reveals that the price of a normal-sized goat is around Rs16,000-Rs20,000 and that of a medium-sized cow between the range of Rs50,000-100,000. This year, cattle markets have been set up in congested residential and commercial areas of Sialkot, Daska, Sambrial, Bhopalwala, Uggoki, Satrah, Pasrur, Chawinda, Badiana and surrounding areas. A Sargodha-based trader, Abdul Ghani, says that short number of animals in markets was the reason behind surge in prices. Another middleman, Khalid Iqbal, of Mianwali says that the prices of camel have also soared to a great extent. Many people are hoping that prices of sacrificial animals will again come down when animals from other cities will arrive here.