For two or three weeks before Eid ul Adha, Pakistan's big cities set up temporary cattle markets (mandis) where families buy the bulls, goats and sheep they will sacrifice. In 2026 Eid ul Adha fell on Wednesday 27 May, the markets opened from about 10 May, and Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad each had official sites with magistrates, parking and veterinary counters. In 2027 Eid is expected around 16 to 17 May, so the markets will open in the first days of May, depending on the moon.
This is a guide for someone who wants to visit a mandi as an observer or buyer: where the markets are, when they are busiest, what animals cost according to 2026 reports, and how to behave. It is not a religious guide, but it assumes you know the sacrifice is a central part of Eid ul Adha and treats it with respect.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Eid ul Adha 2026 | Wednesday 27 May (moon sighted on 17 May) |
| Expected in 2027 | Around 16 to 17 May, subject to moon sighting |
| Markets open | From about 10 May in Islamabad in 2026, similar timing in other cities |
| Karachi | 21 markets approved by the commissioner in 2026, plus the huge Super Highway market |
| Lahore | Eight official markets in the district |
| Islamabad | Six official markets, sale outside them banned |
| Busiest | Evenings and weekends in the last week before Eid |
When do the markets open?
Markets open about two to three weeks before Eid. In Islamabad the district administration announced six official markets in early May 2026, with operations starting on 10 May. Trading in Lahore began around 12 May, according to Pakistan Today. Karachi's commissioner approved 21 locations in early May.
Activity builds slowly. Reports from Lahore in May 2026 noted that buying tends to rise in the final days before Eid, once salaries are paid. In practice that means the first week is for browsing and prices, and the last four or five days are the rush. The final nights are the most chaotic and the most expensive.
Because Eid ul Adha follows the Islamic calendar, the date changes by about eleven days each year. The Zilhaj moon is announced about ten days before Eid, and Pakistan's committee has not always agreed with Saudi Arabia. In 2026 Pakistan announced on 17 May that Eid would be on 27 May.
Karachi
Karachi has two layers of cattle markets.
The commissioner's approved markets. In 2026 the commissioner approved 21 sites spread over seven districts. They included the Northern Bypass market at Taiser Town, Aftab Goth in Orangi, K Area Ground in Korangi, the Sunday Car Bazaar in North Karachi, Azimabad Society near Sohrab Goth, Safoora Chowrangi, Block 5 in Gulistan-e-Johar, Asu Goth in Malir and a site near Kala Pul under Pakistan Navy supervision (The Nation, 8 May 2026). Local municipal bodies run most of them.
The big Super Highway market. Karachi's largest mandi is on the Super Highway about 13 kilometres from the Sohrab Goth interchange. Wikipedia describes it as spanning over 900 acres with more than 700,000 animals in a season and as Asia's largest, while Arab News described it in 2025 as about 1,200 acres, with 175,000 cattle for sale that year. Sellers mostly come from rural Sindh and Punjab. The figures differ by source and year, so take them as the scale rather than as exact numbers. I could not confirm in the 2026 lists that this market ran in the same form, so check where it is operating before you travel out to it.
Expect a very long, hot, dusty journey. The market causes real congestion on the Super Highway, and residents along the road have protested about blocked roads.
Lahore
Lahore district has eight official cattle markets, with parking arrangements for loader vehicles set up at all of them (Pakistan Today, 12 May 2026). Profit by Pakistan Today named six main venues run by the Punjab Cattle Market Management and Development Company:
- Shahpur Kanjran, the model cattle market
- Saggian
- Wagah Sports Complex
- Burki Road
- LDA City
- Raiwind
Another report mentions the central Bhata market. If you are visiting as an observer, pick the site nearest to you and go in the evening, when the heat drops and families are out. Lahore's larger markets are far from the old city, so budget an hour or more each way in traffic. Our unrelated guide to the Horse and Cattle Show in Lahore covers a very different, agricultural event at Fortress Stadium.
Islamabad and Rawalpindi
Islamabad's district administration announced six official markets for 2026: near Zia Masjid, in sector I-12, at Barakahu, at Sultana Foundation on Lehtrar Road, at Sangjani and on Japan Road. Selling sacrificial animals outside the official sites was prohibited. A magistrate was to be on duty at each market round the clock to watch for overcharging, and the administration promised parking, sanitation and security. The fee set by the administration was Rs 3,000 for small animals and Rs 4,000 for large ones. The CDA reported that the six sites were auctioned for a record Rs 349.5 million, with I-12 alone going for Rs 200.1 million, and introduced a cashless trading system.
What do the animals cost?
Prices were very high in 2026, and sellers blamed transport, feed and livestock costs. All figures below are reported ranges in rupees from May 2026 in Lahore, not quotes, and they move daily.
| Animal | Reported price in Lahore, May 2026 |
|---|---|
| Ordinary goat | Rs 90,000 to 120,000 |
| Medium goat or sheep | About Rs 150,000 |
| Attractive goat or sheep | Rs 180,000 to 200,000 |
| Premium goat or sheep | Rs 300,000 to 500,000 |
| Ordinary bull | About Rs 240,000 |
| Medium bull | Rs 280,000 to 300,000 |
| Better bull | Rs 300,000 to 400,000 |
| Premium bull | Rs 800,000 to 1.4 million |
Another report from late May described small goats at Rs 60,000 to 100,000, compared with Rs 40,000 to 55,000 a year earlier, and said many buyers left without buying. Transport from the market adds Rs 2,500 to 3,000 even for short distances, and one buyer reported spending over Rs 5,000 within Lahore.
In Karachi, Arab News reported that an average cow cost about Rs 330,000 in 2025, up from Rs 170,000 the year before, and that traders cited Rs 30,000 per animal in administrative fees. Prices change every year, so check the current market before you plan to buy.
Health and safety
Cattle markets are crowded, hot and full of animals. A few points:
- Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF). The Punjab Healthcare Commission issued directions to raise awareness before Eid, as the disease is spread by ticks and by contact with animals. Wear long sleeves and trousers, avoid touching animals' skin more than needed, wash your hands afterwards and see a doctor if you develop a high fever after contact.
- Veterinary counters. District administrations set up livestock department counters at markets for health checks, and officials told buyers to inspect animals carefully and watch for fraud.
- Heat. Late May and June temperatures are high and the markets are mostly open ground. Go in the evening, drink water and carry a hat.
- Footwear. Closed shoes, as the ground is dung, mud and animal waste.
- Pickpockets. Crowds attract them. Carry little cash and use the cashless options where offered.
Etiquette for visitors
If you are going only to watch, remember that the animals belong to the people selling them, and the market is a place of business.
- Ask before photographing people, and before photographing animals with their owners. Do not film families bargaining.
- Do not tease or touch animals and do not stand close to bulls from behind.
- Bargain properly if you buy. Ask the price, offer a lower one and be ready to walk away. Do not start bargaining unless you mean to buy.
- Dress modestly in loose clothes and cover your head if you wish.
- Keep to marked lanes and let animals and loaders pass, as accidents with large bulls are not unknown.
- Do not litter. Many markets have a fee-based cleaning arrangement, and the aftermath of Eid is a public health issue.
Should a visitor go?
A mandi is not a polished attraction, and it is not set up for tourists. It is a working market, loud and smelly in the heat, with animals everywhere. For someone who wants to understand how Pakistanis prepare for Eid ul Adha, it is one of the most revealing places to be, and many are happy to talk. For others, particularly those uneasy around large animals or heat, a glimpse from a car window or a local friend's description is enough.
If you are visiting Pakistan around Eid ul Adha, you will find that cities empty out, transport is full and many places close for three days. Our guide to public holidays and travel in Pakistan explains how holidays work, and the Eid ul Adha trip guide for the northern areas covers heading into the mountains. For other seasonal events, see our experiences page.
Frequently asked questions
When do cattle markets open before Eid ul Adha?
About two to three weeks before. In 2026 Islamabad's markets started on 10 May and Lahore's around 12 May, for Eid on 27 May.
Where is the biggest cattle market in Pakistan?
Karachi's Super Highway market is usually described as the largest, and Wikipedia calls it Asia's largest. Check where it is operating in the year you travel.
How much does a sacrificial animal cost in 2026?
In Lahore in May 2026 reports gave ordinary goats at Rs 90,000 to 120,000 and ordinary bulls from about Rs 240,000, rising to over a million rupees for premium bulls. Prices change daily.
Can I buy an animal outside the official market?
In Islamabad, sale of sacrificial animals outside the official markets was prohibited in 2026. Other cities have similar rules, so check with the local administration.
Is it safe to visit a cattle market?
Mostly yes, but crowds, heat and animal-borne disease such as CCHF are real concerns. Cover your arms and legs, wash your hands and follow health advice.
Are cattle markets open to non-Muslims and tourists?
Markets are public places and visitors are generally tolerated if they are polite. Ask before photographing and do not interfere with buyers and sellers.
