Pakistan-Meat prices soar 100%.
PAKISTAN.Meat prices soar out of public reach.
* Butchers’ leader speaks of 100% hike next month
* Puts the blame on gluttony at marriages
By Aamir Yasin
ISLAMABAD/RAWALPINDI: Faced with hiking prices of mutton, beef and poultry, people in general and salaried class in particular are transfixed, putting up appeal after appeal to the government not to screw them up too tight.
On Saturday, butchers sold mutton for Rs 320-360 per kg in Islamabad and Rs 300-320 per kg in Rawalpindi; beef for Rs 200-220 per kg in Islamabad and Rs 190-210 per kg in Rawalpindi and chicken for Rs 135-140 per kg in both cities.
The butchers also spoke of more hike in prices in the days to come. They told Daily Times that mutton price would reach Rs 500 per kg.
Raja Ramzan, a resident of Mohanpura, complained that prices of mutton, beef and chicken were too high for low salaried people to afford.
Malik Shahnawaz, a resident of Chaklala-III, said the government had turned a blind eye on this issue. He said common man’s economic back had already been broken by the ever-rising inflation in utility bills.
"Is the government trying to kill masses economically through the unjustified price hike?" he questioned.
Zulqarnain Shah, a resident of G-8/2, said hike in prices of mutton, beef and chicken had exposed hollow claims of the government about stabilising economy. He said the hike lacked justification because food prices in neighbouring countries were lower than Pakistan.
"The poor are getting poorer and the rich becoming richer. The ratio of suicides due to increasing poverty and unemployment is going up," said Naeem Ahmed, a resident of I-10/2.
100 percent increase: All Pakistan Jamiat-ul-Quresh Meat Welfare Association President Khurshid Ahmed Quershi said there was a wide gap between the demand and supply of animals, which would lead to 100 percent increase in prices of mutton, beef and chicken in next month.
He said the federal government allowed export of animals, which created this demand-supply gap. He said the smuggling of livestock was another reason for shortage of meat in the twin cities.
He said total number of animals butchered in the twin cities had been reduced from 7000 to 3500 daily.
He said butchers were finding it hard to manage their businesses due to shortage of animals.
He said excessive use of mutton in marriages had doubled its demand. He demanded of the government to implement one-dish law to stop the situation from worsening further.
He said constant unrest in NWFP had forced butchers to rely on interior Punjab solely for supply of animals. Increase in chicken price was linked with increase in mutton price, he added.
