KARACHI - Eidul Azha is just around the corner and the festivity and celebrations of Eid is only a day away, the sale of sacrificial animals could not gain momentum as skyrocketed prices have forced the masses to think otherwise. Though some people have bought sacrificial animals yet majority of them are waiting for a fall in the prices, as they hope that the prices of sacrificial animal will come down on the first day of Eid. The prices of animals have increased by 120 to 200 percent as compared to last year. Vendors attribute the hike in the prices of the sacrificial animals to the rising inflation and pointed out that inflation was the main reason behind this price hike The prices of sacrificial animals are higher due to the extraordinary inflation, rising cost of input and transportation charges and the imposition of several taxes. The price of a healthy medium sized goat is not less than Rs15,000, while a medium weight heifer costs around Rs40,000 this year. Last year the prices of a goat ranged between Rs8,000 to Rs10,000 and a heifer from Rs20,000 to about Rs30,000. It has also been witnessed that goats are being sold in the various parts of the metropolis according to weight, which a reasonable way for people from middle class to buy goats according to their financial position and rates of goats being sold in the City are ranging from Rs230 to Rs260 per kg this year, which is Rs40 to Rs60 more than the last year. Allah Rakha, a trader of sacrificial animals, said that they were waiting for the customers as he said that though a large number of people visited the market, a few of them purchased the sacrificial animals. He hoped that in days people would come to buy sacrificial animal, saying that high prices of the animals had forced people to stay away. He said the price of a healthy medium sized goat would not be less than Rs15,000, while a medium weight heifer would cost around Rs40,000 this year. This year, a number of sale points could be witnessed in the metropolis but still people prefer moving to small markets or sale points to purchase animals to fulfil their religious obligation. Meanwhile, higher prices of animals are setting trend of shared-sacrifice, especially in the middle class and low-income class. Yasir Raza said that they had bought a animal for sacrifice on Eid collectively (shared sacrifice). Till last year, we all used to sacrifice goats, but this year due to the high prices it is unbearable for us, Yasir Raza, employee in private organization said. He said that he had purchased a cow for sacrifice in a group of friends and neighbours. This unprecedented price-hike has broken our back(s), leaving us with no other option but to opt for shared sacrifice this year, he said. The prices of animals, especially the goats and sheep, are unbearable. The sellers are simply looting the people, he pointed out. When I found out that I wont be able to buy a goat this year, I started contacting my friends and neighbours to share a cow and they all agreed to my suggestion to share the cost of sacrificial animal, he said. High demand for shared sacrifice motivated several charities and they are also arranging shared sacrifices this year. Hundreds of organizations and citizens at their areas level have arranged shared sacrifices to provide maximum number of the faithful with a chance to participate in the religious ritual. Conversely, like the previous years, hundreds of VIP tents have been installed on the Super Highway cattle market on the eve of Eidul Azha and an area stretched over 4,000 square feet has been earmarked for this purpose. Many farm owners has step into the arena by putting some really healthy, highly decorated and classy sacrificial animals on sale. Some of the famous ones include Dilpasand Cattle Farm, Lasania Cattle Farm, Shah Cattle Farm etc. Although the prices vary and ranges in millions but still it is a part of Eid celebrations to see every sort of animal available in the specially set up Cattle market.