Inflation-driven prices led more individuals to choose collective sacrificial arrangements during Eidul Azha, with seminaries offering flexible pricing tiers and extended registration hours.
More people opted for ijtimahi qurbani this year amid soaring inflation and unprecedented livestock prices. As goats and sheep reached record-high costs across the country, including in provincial capitals, a noticeable increase was observed at various religious seminaries and institutions that offer collective Qurbani services. Citizens were increasingly booking shares in group sacrifices rather than purchasing individual animals.
To accommodate the growing number of applicants, administrations of multiple religious seminaries expanded their booking operations and introduced separate shifts for registration and fee collection, working day and night. The rates for participation in collective sacrifice varied based on the days of Eid: for the first day, prices ranged between Rs35,000 and Rs43,000 per share; for the second day, around Rs33,000; and for the third and final day, between Rs30,000 and Rs31,000. The rate for collective camel sacrifice was fixed at between Rs65,000 and Rs71,000 per share.
These rates were significantly higher compared to last year, reflecting continued food inflation and rising livestock prices. Organisers attributed the shift in preference to increasing costs of food and essential commodities, which have contributed to overall inflation and impacted sacrificial arrangements this year. Many citizens who previously purchased animals individually are now opting for shared sacrifice systems due to affordability pressures.
To facilitate participants, seminaries introduced different pricing tiers based on the size, health, and strength of the animals—separate rates were set for premium, medium, and standard-quality livestock. Institutions also extended registration and receipt issuance hours to avoid inconvenience for those depositing payments. Despite these measures, demand for collective arrangements remained high until the final days of Eid due to rising affordability pressures on households.
This year's trend towards ijtimahi qurbani underscores the significant impact of inflation on traditional practices and highlights how communities are adapting to economic challenges.
