Chicken prices receive significant surge in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, new rates inside

ISLAMABAD: Despite the federal governmnet claims to maintain a balanced rate list, Chicken prices in Twin cities have skyrocketed since the beginning of Ramadan, making the white meat almost inaccessible to the general public.

Since the wholesale chicken prices rose to a record high of Rs19,000 per maund, live chicken is being sold at Rs550 per kg and chicken meat for Rs800 per kg.

The government has fixed the price of live chicken at Rs 412 per kg, but this rate is nowhere to be found in the twin cities.

Khursheed Abbasi, vice president of the Poultry Association Rawalpindi, stated that the demand for chicken is being increased by 40% during Ramazan from normal days, while supply is comparatively less than that.

He warned that should the supply not be improved, by Eidul Fitr the price of chicken would escalate yet again. Faisal Khan, secretary of the Retailers’ Union, said the wholesale price of chicken is being increased every day.

To protest against the price hike in chicken, Malik Zaheer Awan, president of the Citizens’ Action Committee, announced a boycott campaign from chicken until Eid.

Additionally, following the recent hike in chicken prices, the egg rates have also surged in the open market, with broiler eggs retailing at Rs287 per dozen and desi eggs at Rs640 per dozen.