Winter staple: Officials fail to enforce poultry rates

ISLAMABAD:

To the annoyance of residents, administrations of the twin cities have so far failed to enforce official rates for poultry products.

During a visit to various areas of the capital and Rawalpindi on Sunday, it was observed that administrations have failed to keep a check on manipulation of rates by poultry traders, given a surge in demand due to the drop in temperature.

A price variation of Rs20-30 per kilogramme of live chicken was noticed. At Sunday bazaars in the capital, live chicken was sold at Rs122 per kg, whereas retailers were charging Rs160 for the same at Aabpara Market.

In Rawalpindi, live chicken was being retailed at Rs140 per kg.

Meanwhile, eggs are being retailed at Rs100-130 a dozen in various markets of the twin cities.

At a time when meat and pulses are already out of reach of the majority, most people rely on chicken as an affordable source of protein. The recent increase in prices and administrations inability to enforce standard rates is slowly pushing poultry products out of the reach of the residents too.

On the other hand, poultry retailers expressed fear that prices might hike further if the current cold spell continues in the coming days as gap between demand and supply would further expand.

Some market sources claimed the recent price hike was temporary and due to increase in demand and less supply.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 8^th, 2015.