In Rawalpindi, broiler chicken meat prices continue to soar, showing no signs of stabilization. Daily fluctuations in the rates for live chicken and its meat make it increasingly unaffordable for many.
Live chicken retails at Rs520 per kilogram, while chicken meat sells for Rs850 per kilogram. This price surge is causing a noticeable decrease in customer traffic at shops specializing in live broiler chicken meat, leaving shopkeepers waiting for buyers.
A shop owner in Allahabad Market explained that the high purchase costs from wholesalers prevent them from reducing retail prices.
The situation is similarly dire for vegetables and fruits in the open market, with prices escalating beyond control. Onions now cost Rs150-200 per kilogram, potatoes priced at Rs100, and tomatoes at Rs250 per kilogram. Cabbage sells for Rs80, ginger for Rs720, and garlic for Rs520 per kilogram, with other vegetables priced between Rs100 and Rs200 per kilogram.
Fruit has also become a luxury for many, with oranges at Rs200 per dozen, apples between Rs250-300 per kilogram, pomegranates at Rs500 per kilogram, guavas at Rs200 per kilogram, and bananas at Rs200 per dozen. This pricing puts basic nutritional options out of reach for the economically disadvantaged.
Despite government claims of imminent inflation control promising a significant reduction to single-digit rates, the price control system intended to manage inflation appears ineffective. Daily government-issued price lists for chicken, meat, vegetables, and fruits are largely ignored in the open market, with shopkeepers and customers disregarding the official rates.
