Chicken rates take wings

KARACHI:

The prices of broiler chicken have surged dramatically in the metropolitan city as retailers blatantly flout the official price list issued by the commissioner Karachi.

The official price of live broiler chicken has been set at Rs410/kg, but it is being sold wholesale at Rs480/kg. At the retail level, chicken meat is being sold at Rs700/kg to 740/kg while boneless is priced at Rs840/kg.

Similarly, egg prices have also witnessed a sharp rise. While the official rate for eggs is Rs300 a dozen, they are being sold at Rs380 a dozen in markets across the metropolis. The price of chicken meat has been arbitrarily jacked up by Rs100/kg within a week. Shopkeepers attribute the rise to higher demand during the winter season, which has disrupted the demand-supply balance. They claim the commissioner Karachi has not issued an updated official price list for the past two days, pushing vendors to charge arbitrary rates. Consumers have expressed frustration over the lack of enforcement, urging officials to take action against profiteers. "The commissioner Karachi must ensure strict implementation of the official price list to provide relief to the public," said a shopper.