Poultry sellers abuse de-regulation

Live birds not available for sale in markets across metropolis

LAHORE:

Inconsistent pricing for chicken meat continues across the city despite a newly implemented price-setting mechanism for poultry.

Under the revised system, the district administration only regulates the price of live chicken, leaving retailers to independently set their rates for the meat. This partial regulation has resulted in widespread price distortions. Despite official price notifications, the relevant authorities have failed to ensure the availability of live poultry in markets, while retailers are charging arbitrary rates for meat.

The official price of live chicken this week was reduced by Rs3 per kilogram and set between Rs354 and Rs368. However, live birds were generally not available in markets. Instead, chicken meat was sold at Rs500 to Rs650 per kilogram, while boneless chicken was priced at Rs850 to Rs950 in most areas of the provincial capital.

The situation was mirrored in the beef and mutton sectors. Beef was sold at Rs1,400 per kilogram and mutton at Rs2,600, in stark contrast to the official rates of Rs800 and Rs1,600, respectively.

Elsewhere in the markets, significant disparities were observed between government-fixed prices and those charged by vendors for vegetables and fruits. A-grade soft skin potatoes were officially priced at Rs45 to Rs50 per kilogram but were sold for Rs80 to Rs100. B-grade and C-grade potatoes, fixed at Rs32 to Rs40, were also sold above their set rates. Similar trends were seen with onions and tomatoes. A-grade onions, fixed at Rs35 to Rs40, were sold at Rs80 to Rs100. A-grade tomatoes, priced at Rs35 to Rs40, were sold for up to Rs120.

Garlic and ginger prices saw substantial increases. Local garlic, officially fixed at Rs152 to Rs160 per kilogram, was sold at rates between Rs150 and Rs250. Chinese garlic, fixed at Rs330 to Rs345, reached Rs500 per kilogram in markets. Thai and Chinese varieties of ginger, set at Rs400 to Rs420, were sold at Rs500 to Rs600.

Price hikes affected other vegetables as well. Cucumbers, fixed at Rs52 to Rs55 per kilogram, were sold for up to Rs100, with the local variety costing Rs150. Brinjal, fixed at Rs47 to Rs50, sold for as much as Rs120. Bitter gourd, despite a price cut to Rs66 to Rs70, was sold between Rs100 and Rs140. Spinach was fixed at Rs23 to Rs25 per kilogram but sold at double the rates. Zucchini, lemon, capsicum, cauliflower, and cabbage also showed large gaps between official and market prices.

The fruit market followed a similar pattern. Apple prices increased by Rs30, with official rates ranging from Rs210 to Rs360 per kilogram. However, vendors charged up to Rs800. A-category bananas, fixed at Rs215 to Rs240 per dozen, were sold for Rs350 to Rs400. Guavas rose by Rs10 to Rs115 to Rs160 per kilogram but sold at Rs250.

Despite clear price lists issued by the district administration, widespread violations continued.