(28 Aug 2017) LEADIN:
Pakistani Muslims are preparing for the religious holiday of Eid al-Adha.
Sacrificial animals - particularly cows - are top of the shopping list for the celebrations.
STORYLINE:
Moving cattle can be a bit of a spectacle in Karachi.
But when an owner needs to move a cow from a rooftop, down to the narrow streets below, a crane is the only way to do it.
Curious residents watch the delicate operation unfold as one of Syed Ejaz Hassan is dangled in a harness many metres above them.
It's time they were brought down to earth because Eid al-Adha is coming.
The cows will be sacrificed for the religious holiday.
"I have been doing this for the last nine years. These animals have been on our roof for one year," says Ejaz Hassan.
"I spend around 500 rupees (5 US dollars) every day to feed and look after these animals."
Many people buy their sacrificial animals just ahead of the celebrations.
But Ejaz Hassan and his family are unusual: they look after the creatures in a makeshift barn on the roof of their building for at least a year.
His daughters help him to take care of the animals and 13 year-old Saima has become to attached to her charges she has even given them names.
But it's worth the time and money, considering how prices for cows often sky-rocket around the time of the festival.
Karachi's major cattle market claims to be the biggest livestock market in Asia.
Hundreds of thousands of animals are sold here every year.
Stalls and enclosures are set-up and animals paraded to entice buyers.
Muhammad Zahid has been scouring the market for several hours in search of the right animal that is also within his price range.
"To sacrifice an animal is a ritual and practice that dates back to the Prophet Abraham," he says.
"But what I have observed recently is that people try to outdo each other. This wasn't the case, let's say, 20 years ago. We never had such 'fancy' animals being paraded around."
But the main issue with sacrificial animals remains price. Buyers complain of inflated prices while sellers say they are unable to cover costs.
Ghulam Mustafa is from Sadiqabad in Southern Punjab. He comes to Karachi every year to sell animals.
He says that people are unwilling to pay the fair price for animals and then complain about high prices.
"We are here to earn our livelihood so that we can feed our children. We bring animals from afar, then we stay and sleep here only, surrounded by dirt and often excrement," says Mustafa.
We want to and deserve to sell the animal for a profit but we are not able to. We want to sell so that we can also return home in time for Eid."
Among sacrificial animals, cows tend to be the popular choice. But other animals are also sacrificed. In the market, separate areas are designated for goats and sheep, and another for camels.
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