Karachi: The prices of live chicken bird and its meat hit new peak of Rs210-220 per kg and Rs340 per kg on Thursday as compared to Rs160 and Rs 260-280 two days back.
Surprisingly, the Commissioner Karachi, who regulates food prices, was not aware of meteoric rising trend in chicken prices and issuing the rates of Rs134 per kg for live bird and Rs200 per kg for its meat in the official daily price chart for the last four days.
In the absence of any effective price monitoring system, retailers charge at whim.
Since the Commissioner Office does not issue price of golden and boneless, the chicken sellers were charging Rs440 and Rs500 per kg compared to Rs380-400 and Rs420-440 a day back.
On May 3, the official price of live bird and its meat was Rs132 and Rs198 per kg but consumers had to pay Rs160 and Rs260-280 respectively.
It is not clear from where the price regulator takes the rates and on what basis it determines daily prices as the stakeholders are reluctant to comment on price fixing mechanism of the city government.
Abdul Maroof Siddiqui of the Pakistan Poultry Association (PPA) attributed the price hike to high demand triggered by the ongoing marriage season and rising outdoor dining amid supply slowdown in the wake of closure of many poultry farms during the last seven months.
However, he claimed that live bird retail rate had fallen to Rs194 from Rs202 per kg in the last two days. There is a difference of Rs12-14 per kg in the farm and retail rate, he added.
On disconnect between the official and retail rates in the market, he said the commissioner Karachi issued the lowest possible rates which were not followed by retailers.
