PESHAWAR: With Eidul Azha approaching, the trade of sacrificial animals reached its peak across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Sunday as cattle markets witnessed a massive influx of buyers and traders from different parts of the province.

Alongside the regular weekly livestock markets in Peshawar district, privately operated cattle farms also attracted large crowds. One of the city’s busiest cattle markets, located on the Ring Road near the slaughterhouse that supplies meat to much of the provincial capital, remained packed throughout the day. Long queues of vehicles caused severe traffic congestion in the area despite the presence of heavy police deployment to regulate traffic.

Buyers said Rs2,000 was being charged on the purchase of each animal at the market.

Another major livestock market in the Sarband area on the Bara Road continued to supply sacrificial animals to residents of Bara, Jamrud, Sheikhan, Pishtakhara, Hayatabad, Achini and adjoining localities.

Buyers complain of heavy fees charged by market owners

A separate market at Palosai in the suburban area of Tehkal also remained active, where buyers were reportedly exempted from paying taxes. Residents from Regi, DHA, Tehkal, Board Bazaar, University Road, Bara Gate, Shaheen Colony, Shaheedabad and nearby rural areas visited the market in large numbers.

Peshawar’s largest cattle market, commonly known as Kala Mandi on GT Road near Jhagra and Nasirpur, saw extraordinary activity as traders from across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Chitral, arrived with livestock. The market, situated opposite the city’s fruit market, remained overcrowded, making movement difficult for both pedestrians and motorists.

Spread over a vast area, Kala Mandi houses separate sections for buffaloes, cows, bulls and dairy animals. A railway track passing through the centre of the market added to the difficulties for traders and buyers, who complained of dust clouds whenever trains crossed the area.

Buyers said the market administration was charging Rs1,500 per animal transaction.

The Sufaid livestock market on Kohat Road also remained crowded, attracting buyers from Budhber, Matani, Bazidkhel, Ahmadkhel, Nauthia, Scheme Chowk, Armar and even Dara Adamkhel. In addition to sacrificial animals, the market also offered goats, rams, poultry, birds and vegetables, making it a popular weekly shopping destination for residents.

Other livestock markets in Peshawar, including Bara Market on Frontier Road, Chahil Ghazi Baba on Warsak Road, Charsadda Road cattle market near Khazana and Naguman market, also recorded heavy business activity on Sunday.

Despite brisk sales, many buyers complained of rising prices. A government employee, Nasir Khan, said he had deliberately delayed his purchase in the hope that prices would fall closer to Eid, but the expectation proved wrong.

Livestock traders, including Arab Khan and Qaiser Khan, said a large number of animals were sold on Sunday as Eid shopping intensified.

Meanwhile, residents in different parts of Malakand division, including Chakdara, Mingora, Matta, Langar and Kat Kala, said buyers this year preferred locally bred animals, particularly Achai breed cows and bulls as well as Azikheli buffaloes, because lower transportation costs kept prices relatively affordable.

In Charsadda, the livestock traders complained about sluggish business activity at the cattle markets, linking the slump in economic activities to the declining purchasing power and soaring inflation, our Charsadda correspondent reports.

It was learnt that though the cattle markets in the district have witnessed some momentum in the sale of sacrificial animals, the high prices of the animals have kept the buyers at bay.

A large number of sacrificial animals have been brought to the cattle markets, but buyers were seen haggling over the prices, and most of them left without making any purchases.

Traders said the turnout of customers remained low compared to previous years as people were struggling with economic hardships.

According to cattle dealers, buffaloes were being sold for Rs400,000 to Rs600,000, while cows and bulls were priced between Rs300,000 and Rs400,000. Goats are available from Rs50,000 to Rs100,000, whereas sheep prices range from Rs100,000 to Rs200,000.

A goat priced at Rs400,000 became the centre of attention in the market, attracting large crowds of visitors, though no buyer came forward due to its high cost.

Published in Dawn, May 25th, 2026