Karachi residents witnessed an increase in milk prices of Rs 50 per litre on Friday.
Mubasher Qadeer Abbasi, President of Dairy Farmers Karachi, cited soaring cattle costs and high production expenses as reasons for the hike. He also mentioned the government’s neglect of the industry.
Abbasi has urged the Karachi Commissioner to confirm the new pricing structure quickly. Without official approval by May 10, dairy stakeholders will raise milk prices independently.
Despite these concerns, overall weekly inflation saw a slight decrease. According to the Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI), inflation dropped by one per cent for the week ending May 2. The SPI, reflecting prices for 51 essential items in 17 urban centres, stood at 316.95 points, down from 320.14 the previous week.
Year-on-year data paints a starker picture, with a 24.37 per cent increase in the SPI for the same consumption group. While prices for items like tomatoes and chicken fell, others such as potatoes and garlic rose.
The mixed price movements highlight the volatile nature of market prices, affecting both weekly budgets and annual comparisons. As Karachi faces potential milk price hikes, the broader inflationary trend remains a concern for consumers.
