Public forced to buy chicken on high prices despite govt’s set rates

KARACHI: The prices of chicken have been increasing to an all-time high across Pakistan despite the government-set price rates.

Citizens are being pushed into buying even basic and somehow affordable sources of protein at higher prices, while market rates keep going past the price limits that were officially set.

Even though the government has fixed the price of broiler chicken meat at Rs 490 per kilogram, it is actually being sold in open markets for something like Rs 510 to Rs 520 per kilogram, and that leaves a very obvious difference between the stated official figures and what people see on the ground.

Consumers are asking for tough enforcement of price control steps so there is some relief at the retail level, not just on paper. In a similar way, the government-notified rate for farm eggs is Rs 230 per dozen, but in practice, they show up in the market at Rs 240 to Rs 245 per dozen, which again adds more weight to monthly household spending.

Citizens have urged the concerned authorities to act immediately against overpricing, and to make sure businesses follow the official rates that were notified by the government so families can get relief during these rising cost-of-living pressures.