People have sacrificed 6 million animals on this Eidul Azha while 8.1 million were sacrificed last year. Covid-19 outbreak is cited as the major reason.

Former Pakistan Tanners Association chairperson Agha Saeedain said that a sum of Rs174 billion was spent on buying the sacrificial animals and Rs242 last year.

He said the price of hides is too down by 50 percent this year as demand was too cut even in international market.

The hides cost Rs5.25 billion last year but it stands at Rs1.75b this year, he said adding that 2 million cows, more than 3.1 million goats, 0.8 million sheep and 60,000 camel were bought. Tanners and shoemaker are uninterested to invest in the sector.