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KARACHI, Oct 31: As the indefinite strike by meat merchants entered its second day, Friday, no fresh meeting was held between the city government and Meat Merchants Welfare Association (MMWA) to find a solution to the price issue.
Amid war of words, coupled with the shutter-down, between the two sides, poultry dealers have taken full advantage of the great demand by increasing prices of poultry products.
A broiler live bird was selling at Rs64 per kg — Rs2 higher than the pre-strike rates — on Thursday. An unusual rush for chicken meat was observed in various markets due to the non-availability of mutton and beef and poultry dealers made a roaring business to make full gains from the situation.
Poultry meat is now selling at Rs110 per kg as compared to Rs105 per kg till Wednesday. Many dealers, who were asked to justify the sudden rise in poultry prices, could not give any genuine reason.
In a related development, leaders of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal have intervened to settle the dispute between the CDGK and meat sellers association.
According to a spokesman for the Meat Merchants Welfare Association (MMWA), the representatives of the MMA, Mr Mohammad Hussain Mahenti and Mr Nasrullah, held a meeting with the members of the MMWA and discussed meat prices issue and points of disagreements on Friday. A possible solution to the problem, that has led to the indefinite strike by meat merchants, was discussed during the meeting.
The spokesman said that the MMA leaders held out the assurance that they would take up the issue with the city government and highlight the grievances of meat merchants in order to settle the dispute. According to him, they intended to call on the Naib Nazim and District Coordination Officer to find an amicable solution to the problem.
On its part, the association has planned to hold a protest demonstration in front of the Karachi Press Club on Saturday against, what it called, the negative attitude of the city government which had fixed mutton and beef prices much lesser than reasonable. He reiterated the MMWA stand that such a reduction in prices was not possible and that the association would remain firm on its just and fair stance.
ACTION: In the meantime, the city government continued to act against profiteers and hoarders dealing in different commodities, for the fourth consecutive day, Friday.
Teams of city government officials with judicial powers conducted random checking in various markets in all the 18 towns to ensure that the price list issued by the government was being followed and that shopkeepers, vendors and sellers of essential commodities were not resorting to overcharging. In some cases, customers complained of violation and identified culprits on which prompt action was taken against profiteers. Many others were warned against defying the rules related to price control.
As many as 142 shopkeepers, who were found indulged in overcharging, were made to pay a total of Rs63,100 as fine on Friday alone. Since the first day of Ramazan, 540 shopkeepers have been punished for such practices and the total amount of fine collected from them has now touched the figure of Rs234,000, said a press release issued by the city government.
Despite the ongoing campaign, fruit and vegetables dealers have been enjoying the boom in their business and making windfalls. A survey of various markets and shopping areas showed that prices of essential fruits and vegetables verities remained much higher than they were before Ramazan.
