LAHORE: With only eleven or twelve days left in Eidul Azha, the sale of sacrificial animals is gaining momentum, as rush of buyers has been witnessed in cattle markets set up at designated places in the provincial capital. According to a survey of different sale points, vendors are leaving a very narrow bargaining margin for buyers. They are acting as a cartel by keeping the price of low weight goats at Rs 20,000-25,000. For a pair of goats, they demand Rs 40,000-45,000 but normal weight cows are being sold at a price of Rs 55,000 to Rs 100,000. Official sources disclosed that the points set up at different localities of the provincial capital are catching thousands of customers daily but only few succeeded to purchase. A huge number of sacrificial animals are being brought for sale at different cattle markets. During a visit to the different cattle market, it was observed that most of the buyers were interested in purchasing buffaloes and bulls instead of goats, sheep and rams. Owing to the exorbitant prices of the animals, people, mostly belonging to middle class, preferred to get a share in a sacrificial animal rather than buying an animal solely for their families. Although the rates of animals seemed reasonable, most of the buyers complained about the high prices. “It is the fourth Eid that we are celebrating out of our village. In the past, we used to purchase sacrificial animals solely for our families but now it is difficult due to financial constraints,” said elderly Yousaf Aziz. Traders on the occasion said there were plenty of supplies of cattle to the markets and their prices were exorbitant in some extent in comparison to the previous years Eidul Azha. “There is no shortage of cattle supply to the markets but rates are little high comparatively to yester years,” said Naeem, a trader. “This year we brought all our animals to Lahore as we could not transport them to Karachi. There is no dearth of animals in the market as the owners are ready to sell them even at a low rate,” said Hakeemullah, a resident of Sahiwal. On the other hand, traders and buyers seem satisfied over the arrangements made by the provincial government in cattle markets.