Pricey poultry worries inflation-hit public

Poultry rates have taken wings, flying higher than Rs480 per kilogramme for fresh meat, as people are avoiding mutton and beef due to lumpy skin disease in cattle.

People avoiding mutton and beef due to the spread of disease are faced with exorbitant prices arbitrarily set by the poultry sellers, shopkeepers told the Express team during a survey on Sunday.

Profiteers seizing the opportunity are selling chicken in Karachi at double the official rates. The Karachi commissioner had fixed the official price of chicken at Rs214 per kg. This price has remained the same for two years. However, during this time, the cost of chicken crossed the highest level of Rs500, but the official price did not change.

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A poultry meat seller said that people are being cautious in consuming meat owing to the lumpy skin disease, due to which, the butcher shops are empty, whereas the poultry sellers are taking full advantage of the situation. A grocery buyer said that meat sellers are unhappy with this situation, while poultry sellers are traditionally make excuses for the price rise by the poultry suppliers.

Citizens told the Express team that they are disappointed with the Karachi Commissioner and Deputy Commissioners for not controlling the rise in the price of chicken meat. Citizens said that setting prices in closed rooms could not reduce inflation. In the city, chicken, milk, vegetables, commodities and meat are being sold at arbitrary prices, and the administration is sitting idle.