Eid al-Adha, the Islamic festival of sacrifice, witnessed a sharp decline in the number of animals slaughtered this year, according to the Pakistan Tanners Association. The association reported that only 6.36 million animals sacrificed during the three-day festival, which ended on Friday. This is a 30 percent decrease from the previous year, reflecting the economic hardship faced by many Pakistanis.
The association also expressed its concern over the possible wastage of animal hides due to heat and load shedding. The hides are a valuable source of income for the leather industry and charitable organizations.
Pakistan Tanners Association, which represents the leather industry, released its report on Saturday, based on data collected from its members across the country. This report showed that 2 million goats, 3.5 million sheep, 800,000 cows, and 60,000 camels sacrificed during Eid al-Adha this year. Last year, the number of sacrificial animals estimated at 9 million.
The association attributed the decline to the high prices of animals, inflation, unemployment, and low purchasing power of the people. It said that many people could not afford to buy animals for sacrifice or opted for collective or online sacrifices.
The association also warned that 35 percent of the animal hides could spoiled due to high temperatures and power outages. It said that these factors could affect the quality and value of the hides, which used for making leather products and generating revenue for the leather industry and various welfare organizations.
The association urged the government to take measures to ensure the proper preservation and transportation of animal hides. It also appealed to the public to donate their hides to registered and reputable organizations.
The Pakistan Tanners Association reported that this year’s Eid al-Adha saw a 30 percent drop in the number of sacrificial animals, due to the economic difficulties faced by many Pakistanis. It also raised its concern over the potential loss of animal hides, which are a valuable resource for the leather industry and charitable causes.
