TAXILA: The hike in the prices of sacrificial animals has forced people to go for collective sacrifices this Eidul Azha.

Talking to this correspondent, residents of Wah Cant and Taxila said compared to last year there was 50 to 60 per cent increase in the prices of cattle.

People have either arranged collective sacrifices with the help of religious and social groups or are performing the ritual together with friends and family members.

Irshad Khan, a buyer at a cattle market on G.T. Road in Wah Cantt, said, `I am astonished that the prices of animals are much higher than last year. I have no option but to buy an animal together with someone else.

Another buyer, Dr Yasin Mehmood, said, `It is better to go for a Qurbani arranged by madressas or mosques as we will only have to spend somewhere between Rs11,000 to Rs13,000 for a share.

Cattle traders said the prices for animals had gone up because of high transportation charges and other expenditures.

A cattle trader, Sahib Khan, said buyers were finding the prices of sheep and goat much higher and preferring to buy bigger animals so they can perform collective sacrifices. He said some animals were being smuggled into Afghanistan which was also a reason for the price rise.

Jameel Ahmed, a buyer, said it was the government`s responsibility to control the prices so that the citizens can perform the religious ritual.Correspondent