The rates of chicken have skyrocketed in the open markets of Rawalpindi city even after passing of Eidul Fitr, sending a wave of resentment among buyers.
Chicken meat is being sold at Rs950 per kilogramme in the city and Rs1,000 per kg in the surrounding areas. Live chickens is priced at Rs650 per kg in the city and Rs670 in the suburbs.
There is no one to question the vendors about these prices. The government's claims about reducing inflation have fallen flat, and the rising prices of chicken in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi show no signs of decreasing.
A boycott campaign against buying chicken has proven ineffective, failing to achieve any success. The local Poultry Association states that the high demand for chicken in the market isn't being met with sufficient supply.
Since the night before Eid, chicken demand has tripled across hotels, motels, barbecue shops, dhaba, and food streets, but the supply has not increased to meet this demand.
According to Khurshid Abbasi, the vice president of the Poultry Association, the prices of chicken will not decrease until the supply increases.
The cost of chicken feed, medicines, and other essentials has risen by up to 300%, he adds.
Citizens Faisal Ali and Bahzad Ali complain that chicken prices have remained out of control since the night before Eid.
The market committee sets the official price of chicken at Rs412 per kg but remains silent, while price control magistrates seem completely powerless in controlling the prices.
The Chairman of the Price Control Committee, who has set the official price of Rs412 per kg, must ensure that chicken is sold at this price, or else resign, says another citizen Noor Zaman.
He adds the entire government structure is based on lies. If the Prime Minister claims inflation is at just 1.5%, the Price Control and Market Committees continue to claim that chicken prices are under control.
The price of watermelon is Rs20 per kg in cities, and Rs5 to Rs10 per kg in rural areas. Bur during the Eid holidays, watermelon was sold for Rs120 per kg. Sugar, with a government-set price of Rs164 per kg, is being sold in the market for Rs180 per kg.
Due to the massive discrepancy between official and market prices, the Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner (DC) has stopped setting official prices for ghee, sugar, and flour altogether.
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