In Pakistan, Eid al-Adha is not just a religious festival but also generates billions of rupees in economic activity. In rural areas, people specifically raise animals for Eid al-Adha and earn a good income by selling them in cities. This movement of capital from cities to rural areas stimulates the economy.
The hides of sacrificial animals also contribute to a separate economic activity. Traders of animal hides benefit greatly from the large-scale observance of the Abrahamic tradition on Eid al-Adha. The President of the Leather Manufacturers Association, Agha Saiddain, stated that the business volume exceeded 50 billion rupees on Eid al-Adha. Overall, the leader of the leather industry estimates a total worth of 60 billion rupees during the festival.
Agha Saiddain also claimed that Pakistan is the second-largest producer of leaders in the world and India still relies on Pakistani leaders. With government cooperation, billions of dollars can be accumulated in the national treasury. He further stated that during Eid al-Adha, 2 to 2.5 million cows and 3.5 to 4 million goats were sacrificed, along with 1 million sheep and 100,000 camels.
It should be noted that the hides obtained from sacrificial animals are crucial for the leather and value-added industries in Pakistan. Hence, the leather industry is the second-largest revenue-generating industry in Pakistan after textiles, primarily due to the availability of animal hides or skins from sacrificial animals.
