Poultry dealers fire warning shot over price issue

Suspend chicken sales for an hour, threaten strike

RAWALPIDI:

Traders in Rawalpindi primary chicken market (Murghi Mandi) on Monday suspended sales for an hour as part of what they called a symbolic protest ahead of a complete strike unless the district administration accepted their demands regarding the selling price of chicken.

Their demands include increasing their mark up to Rs30 from Rs20. It includes call for the reversal of the decision to implement a uniform rate for chickens across the district. The protesters also chanted slogans against the city administration.

During the strike, the sale of chicken meat was suspended at the market, causing inconvenience to the customers.

A representative of the local poultry dealers’ protestors told protesters that the price of chicken was higher for retailers in Rawalpindi due to the lack of a strong poultry industry in the district.

Another protester pointed out that poultry dealers could not sell chicken at the same price that were being offered in smaller towns like Narowal, Sargodha and Jhelum rates, adding that there were other costs to be considered.

They pointed out that the costs included transport from adjoining districts as well as the cost of labour to load and unload.

During the transportation of chicken, many die due to lack of proper facilities. This loss is also borne by the trader, they said.

The management should take the traders on board before fixing the uniform rate of inter-district chicken so that the traders could put their demands and problems before the management, they continued. They urged the Rawalpindi commissioner to reconsider the decision immediately.

The protestors vowed to continue until their demands were accepted.

The protesters dispersed after an hour after which commercial activity also resumed at the market.

Published in The Express Tribune, November  21^st, 2023.