KARACHI: A crowd gathers in front of the four-story residence of Ajaz Hasan in Karachi’s Nazimabad neighborhood. Above them a crane lowers its cargo from the rooftop: a live bull.
For the past decade, Hasan has used the space afforded by his building’s rooftop to raise bulls that will be slaughtered and eaten during Eid celebrations. But Sunday was a particularly special occasion as the bulls sported the national flag on their horns in honor of Pakistan’s Independence Day, which falls on Tuesday.
As the crane arrives, residents pour out onto the street or dash to their windows to watch this unusual but interesting exercise.
“I would always purchase a baby bull and raise it to sacrifice on Eid Al-Adha,” Hasan told Arab News. “But there is no longer enough space at street level to keep bulls, so, 10 years ago, I had the idea of using the rooftop instead.
“That first time I raised a bull on the roof, I realized I’d need a crane to get it down, and that attracted a lot of attention,” he continued.
This year, Hasan raised seven bulls for sacrifice at Eid-al-Adha. “We don’t just feed them grass, like most cattle,” he added, explaining that his bulls are “special” and receive “special feed.”
Raised on the roof: Karachi’s sacrificial bulls
Raised on the roof: Karachi’s sacrificial bulls
- People in Karachi use rooftops of the building as an affordable place to raise bulls as sacrificial animals for Eid al Adha celebrations
- People in Karachi use rooftops of the building as an affordable place to raise bulls as sacrificial animals for Eid al Adha celebrations
PM Sharif calls on Pakistan, UAE to enhance cooperation in trade and investment
- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif meets UAE Ambassador Salem Mohammed Salem Al Bawab Al Zaabi
- Sharif invites collaboration with UAE in energy, minerals, IT, railways and aviation sectors, says PMO
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday called on Pakistan and the UAE to enhance their trade, economic and investment relations, inviting investment from the Gulf country in Pakistan’s priority sectors.
The UAE is Pakistan’s third-largest trading partner and a major source of foreign investment for the South Asian country. In May 2024, the UAE committed to investing $10 billion in Pakistan’s economic sectors in the coming years.
Sharif met UAE Ambassador Salem Mohammed Salem Al Bawab Al Zaabi at the Prime Minister House on Tuesday where the two sides discussed bilateral relations and economic ties, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said.
“Expressing his satisfaction at the volume of bilateral trade between the two sides, the Prime Minister further highlighted the need for both sides to focus on enhancing economic ties, trade, investment opportunities, and collaboration in areas such as energy, minerals, IT, railways and aviation,” the statement said.
Sharif also invited increased UAE investments in key sectors to support Pakistan’s economic growth and stability, the PMO said.
The Pakistani prime minister acknowledged the UAE’s consistent support for Pakistan “in times of need,” acknowledging the country’s humanitarian assistance and developmental projects.
Al Zaabi thanked the Pakistani premier for extending him a warm welcome, the PMO said.
“He reaffirmed the UAE’s firm resolve and keen interest to deepen its partnership with Pakistan across all spheres and assured the Prime Minister that he would work hard to explore new avenues for cooperation that would benefit both nations,” the statement concluded.
