Chicken meat price issue not yet resolved

LAHORE:The government has failed to enforce the chicken official prices even with the change of price fixation regime as the sellers refused to sell live chicken to the buyers while charging their will rates across the provincial metropolis.

The Punjab government has stopped issuing the chicken meat rates and fixing only live chicken rates in the province. However, this new regime has further given free hand to the chicken sellers in the province, especially in the provincial metropolis where the chief minister and majority of the ministers and elected representatives live, as the sellers refused to sell live chicken. Further, every seller is charging their own will rates. Additionally, mega supper stores are now also charging their own prices after the government stops issuing the chicken meat rates as these stores do not slaughter the chicken at their places so not offering live chicken sales. It is believed that the policy has been implemented without considering the drawbacks to benefit the chicken mafia.

Furthermore, overcharging on all the perishables continued unabatedly. This week again, the official rate of the live chicken unchanged at Rs397-411 per kg, while the seller didn’t sell live chicken but the chicken meat was sold at Rs650-750 per kg and chicken boneless at Rs1,050-1,200 per kg.

The price of potato soft skin A-grade was fixed at Rs45-50 per kg, sold at Rs80-100 per kg, B-grade at Rs37-40 per kg and C-grade at Rs32-35 per kg, mixed sold at Rs50-70 per kg. The price of onion A-grade was reduced by Rs5 per kg, fixed at Rs40-40 per kg, sold at Rs80-100 per kg, B-grade at Rs37-40 per kg, and C-grade at Rs27-30 per kg, mixed sold at Rs50-60 per kg.

The price of tomato A-grade declined by Rs5 per kg, fixed at Rs55-60 per kg, sold at Rs160 per kg, B-grade fixed at Rs45-50 per kg, and C-grade at Rs35-40 per kg, mixed sold at Rs100-120 per kg.

The price of garlic local new was further reduced by Rs25 per kg, fixed at Rs157-165 per kg, sold at Rs150-250 per kg, garlic GI variety fixed at Rs343-363 per kg, sold at Rs400-500 per kg and Garlic China by Rs100 per kg, fixed at Rs380-400 per kg, sold at Rs600 per kg. Garlic Harnai was fixed at Rs238-250 per kg, sold at Rs400 per kg.

The price of both Ginger Thai and Chinese further declined by Rs10 per kg, fixed at Rs372-390 per kg, both sold at Rs500-600 per kg. Cucumber Farm gained by Rs10 per kg, fixed at Rs38-40 per kg, sold at Rs80-100 per kg. Brinjal price reduced by Rs5 per kg, fixed at Rs42-45 per kg, sold at Rs80-120 per without kg. Bitter gourd further reduced by Rs25 per kg, fixed at Rs100-105 per kg, sold at Rs150-180 per kg.

The price of spinach declined by Rs5 per kg, fixed at Rs23-25, sold at Rs50-60 per kg. Zucchini farm gained by Rs10 per kg, fixed at 47-50 per kg, sold at Rs120 per kg, and Zucchini long by Rs10 per kg, fixed at Rs38-40 per kg, sold at Rs80-100 per kg, Zucchini local was fixed at Rs200-210 per kg, sold at Rs300 per kg.

The lemon Chinese gained by Rs5 per kg, fixed at Rs110-115 per kg, sold at Rs300-400 per kg. Green chili reduced by Rs5 per kg, fixed at Rs95-100 per kg, sold at Rs180-200 per kg.

Fenugreek (Methi) price increased by Rs5 per kg, fixed at Rs66-70 per kg, sold at Rs150-180 per kg. Lady finger was further reduced by Rs20 per kg, fixed at Rs172-180 per kg, sold at Rs250-280 per kg.

The price of different variety of apples fixed at Rs170-325 per kg, sold at Rs250-600 per kg. The price of Banana A-category unchanged at Rs233-260 per dozen, sold at Rs350-400 per dozen, and B-category at Rs170-190 dozen, sold at Rs250-280 per dozen. C-grade was fixed at Rs107-120 per dozen, sold at Rs150-200 per dozen.

Guava price reduced by Rs10 per kg, fixed at Rs115-145 per kg, sold at Rs150-200 per kg. Dates price fixed at Rs410-460 per kg, sold at Rs900 to 2,000 per kg.

Strawberry price further reduced by Rs10 per kg, fixed at Rs55-90 per kg, sold at Rs60-150 per kg. Melon price reduced by Rs5 per kg, fixed at Rs55-95 per kg, sold at Rs80-150 per kg. Watermelon price declined by Rs25 per kg, fixed at Rs28-30 per kg, sold at Rs60-100 per kg.