Poultry prices soar by 30pc in twin cities

The prices of poultry items have increased by 30 per cent in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi during the last week, creating further hardships for the inflation-stricken public. According to a market survey conducted by this scribe on Monday, a 40 per cent increase was witnessed in the price of chicken during the last few months.

Whereas, as much as a 30 per cent increase was recorded in the price of poultry eggs during the same period.

According to the survey, the price of live chicken in the twin cities is between Rs415 and Rs420 per kg. Similarly, chicken meat is sold at Rs690 to Rs700 per kg in the open market of both cities.

The survey also suggested that poultry eggs are being sold at Rs282 to Rs290 per dozen.

Pakistan Poultry Association (PPA) Chairman Chaudhry Ashraf said the increase in the current prices of poultry items is due to demand and supply issues.

He said an increase in poultry business inputs and cost of doing business was seen across the country due to which the market was in crisis.

Many people associated with the chicken business in the country were affected by the current crisis, he said, and added that small businesses and poultry farms were closed during the period. He also said the poultry business in the four provinces including Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is suffering due current economic crisis.

Chaudhry Ashraf said the country's economic condition is also an important issue and the poultry feed ingredients imported from foreign countries are very expensive. He added that many soybean containers are docked at the Karachi seaport, which has an inevitable impact on poultry prices.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 14^th, 2023.