Butchers in Karachi have raised the prices of beef and mutton ahead of the upcoming month of Ramazan, sparking concerns of further increases during the holy Islamic month.
A report in an English daily on Sunday highlighted the price surge, revealing that several retailers are imposing an additional Rs100 per kg on beef and mutton, shedding light on the absence of an official price-checking mechanism.
Retailers who previously sold veal (Bachia) meat with and without bones at Rs1,000 and Rs1,200 are now demanding Rs1,100 and Rs1,300 per kg, respectively.
A customer in North Nazimabad N Block reported paying Rs1,200 and Rs1,400 for veal meat with and without bones a few days ago, reflecting an increase of Rs100 per kg.
In the case of mutton, retailers are now charging Rs2,000 per kg, up from Rs1,900. This initial price surge ahead of Ramazan follows the usual trend, where meat prices typically experience multiple hikes before Ramazan and Eidul Fitr. Unfortunately, these price increases often go unnoticed by consumers due to ineffective monitoring mechanisms and the fixing of unrealistic prices.
Meat merchants continue to attribute the rising prices to factors such as increased meat exports, higher transportation costs, and various other charges, perpetuating a familiar narrative in the market.
