With Eidul Fitr just a couple days away, poultry retail prices have surged to unprecedented levels, reaching up to Rs437 per kilogram for live birds and Rs6490 per kilogram for meat.
During the month of Ramadan, spanning from March 12th to April 28th, 2024, the price of poultry chicken rose by 15 percent, while poultry meat saw a 17 percent increase per kilogram.
At the beginning of Ramadan, the price of chicken was fixed at Rs410 per kilogram, but it escalated to Rs475 per kilogram. Similarly, chicken meat, initially priced at Rs595 per kilogram, rose to Rs690 per kilogram by the end of Ramadan.
On April 6th (26th of Ramadan), the price of live chicken reached Rs437 per kilogram, with meat priced at Rs634 per kilogram. Within two days, these prices soared by Rs38 and Rs56, respectively, reaching Rs475 and Rs690 per kilogram by the 28th day of Ramadan.
Meanwhile, in Karachi, profiteers were selling chicken meat at around Rs800 per kilogram, well above the commissioner’s notified price of Rs666 per kilogram.
Despite efforts by the local administration to facilitate citizens fasting during Ramadan, profiteers persisted in selling essential commodities at inflated prices throughout the month. Although the officially notified prices for chicken meat and live chicken were set at Rs666 per kilogram and Rs428 per kilogram, respectively, citizens complained of the unavailability of these commodities at the official prices.
Similarly, the price of eggs, which was Rs220 per kilogram before Ramadan, surged by Rs40 per dozen in the first week and by Rs60 per dozen in the second week of the holy month.
