Chicken jumps out of consumers’ hand

LAHORE:As shopkeepers continued to mint money from citizens in shape of overcharging on chicken meat right under the nose of district administration, which used to make false claims of controlling price of essential commodities in the open market. The price of chicken in open market was between Rs350 and Rs400 per kg against the official rate of Rs260 per kilogram.

During three days of Eid holidays, the price of chicken also skyrocketed and citizens had no other option except getting chicken on Rs450 and above per kilogram. Sources said recently a meeting between the Pakistan Poultry Association and Punjab Minister for Industry and Trade Mian Aslam Iqbal was held in which chicken rate was fixed as Rs260 per kg but in reality this rate was never imposed.

A senior official of district administration on anonymity said the administration was directed not to display a very tight stance over the ongoing overcharging because of low supply of chicken meat.

It is pertinent to mention that no chicken seller mentioned official rate on their notice boards whereas in normal routine they have always mentioned official as well as unofficial per kilogram chicken rate on their boards.

Long queues of people were also witnessed outside chicken sellers and majority of them closed their shops around 4pm as they went out of stock.

Abdul Basit, a veteran poultry businessman, while talking with The News said that a shortage of 60 percent occurred in the supply of chicken meat after the pandemic hit the country.

Citizens said the Punjab government as well as district administration had become a silent spectator and didn’t regulate the price of chicken during the lockdown and Eid holidays until now.

Mustafa Ali, a resident of Township, said that on Thursday night, he purchased chicken at Rs550 per kilogram and when he asked the shopkeeper about official rate, he said there was no official rate these days.

Rashida Bibi, a resident of Allama Iqbal Town, was seen cursing the government while standing outside a chicken meat shop. When asked, she said she was a house maid and can’t afford to buy chicken at Rs450 per kilogram. She said when she asked the shopkeeper that she will complain, he said go to DC Lahore and tell him we are not selling chicken on government rate.

Abdul Karim, a chicken seller, said the rates of chicken supply was higher than the government’s selling rate so how can he sell his product in loss. He said he got supply at Rs290 per kilogram and was selling it at Rs320 while boneless chicken is Rs550 per kilogram.

On the other hand, a massive campaign against chicken meat was started on social media in which it was alleged that chicken meat carried corona virus so stop eating it. Such campaigns were also seen in past whenever the chicken rates went up. It seemed that some citizens started such posts, which became viral on social media. On the other hand, the spokesperson for district government said the city administration held meetings with poultry associations and it was decided that the price of chicken would not go beyond Rs260.

He said Provincial Minister Mian Aslam Iqbal warned the chicken sellers that the government would take strict action in case the price went up.

On a question about present situation, he said a total of 322 inspections of chicken meat shops were done on Thursday in which 43 violations/overcharging was found. He said a fine of Rs68,000 was imposed, 15 FIRs were lodged and 15 chicken sellers were arrested. He said DC Lahore had already directed his team to remain vigilant and take strict action against overcharging. He also appealed to the citizens to contact Assistant Commissioner concerned to report overcharging.