 Credit cards are routinely used to buy household items as well as luxuries, but Lahoreâs citizens cannot swipe their credit cards to buy sacrificial animals, a Daily Times survey revealed. A vendor in Karachi accepting credit card payments for sacrificial animals caught the mediaâs attention last year, but there are no such vendors in Lahore. The survey revealed several reasons behind the lack of the service. Most people selling sacrificial animals are seasonal vendors from remote or rural areas who do not have the resources to accept credit cards. Other vendors think it violates religious principles. âI do not want to sell my animals through credit cards because it is not allowed in Islam,â said Muhammad Ramzan who came from Bahawalnagar. Another vendor favoured using credit cards for promotion of business. âI know my sales will multiply if I provide the facility, but I can not fulfil the bank requirements,â Majeed Akram said.
 Buyers expressed mixed opinions on buying sacrificial animals using credit cards. âEidul Azha is a religious festival and should not be spoiled with credit money,â said Asad Ali, a citizen. âThat is hypocritical. People buy eatables, household goods, petrol and electronic goods using credit cards, but consider them illegal when it comes to sacrificial animals, said Sabir, a businessman.âNo animal vendors were accepting credit cards so I had to withdraw money with my card through an ATM,â said Mujeeb, who bought a goat from Civic Centre in Township, adding that he would repay the money next month. |