KARACHI: City govt adamant on meat price issue: Merchants threaten strike
By Aamir Shafaat
KARACHI, Nov 5: Settling a row between Naib Nazim and DCO over meat prices in the city for the month of Ramazan, City Nazim Naimatullah Khan announced on Wednesday that there would be no amendment, in respect of meat prices, to the price list notified by the city government just before the advent of Ramazan.
The announcement came during a meeting, chaired by Mr Khan, which was attended by the Naib Nazim, Tariq Hasan, DCO Mir Hussain Ali and other officials of the city government, besides representatives of the Meat Sellers Welfare Association (MMWA).
The Association had taken a tough stand against the meat prices fixed by the CDGK and resorted to an indefinite strike last week. While the City Nazim was in China on an official tour, the Naib Nazim had handled the situation and in order to get the strike called off, he agreed to allow the MMWA to increase meat prices up to Rs20 per kg as against an exorbitant hike of up to Rs50 the city’s meat sellers had begun charging in the first week of Ramazan. However, neither the DCO, who was assigned the task to control prices, nor the citizens of Karachi appeared happy over the Naib Nazim’s concessions to the meat sellers.
The City Nazim soon after his return home took up the issue, which had taken shape of a controversy in the city and a tussle among various city officials, with the stakeholders during Wednesday’s meeting. He asked the Naib Nazim whether he was satisfied with the deal between him and the MMWA. The Naib Nazim replied that he had taken the decision to provide relief to the citizens. However, he added, he had realized now that people had not welcomed the decision and that he would no more insist on the deal.
The City Nazim heard the MMWA’s point of view and decided that the meat prices prescribed in the city government’s list would not be changed at least during Ramazan. He, however, assured the MMWA that its genuine demands and grievances would be considered soon after the upcoming Eid.
The MMWA representatives rejected the City Nazim’s decision, reportedly telling him that consumers were still ready to pay Rs180-200 for mutton. They have flatly refused to follow the CDGK’s price list.
On his part, the City Nazim has made it quite clear that those unable to comply with the CDGK notified price list, need not sell meat in the rest of Ramazan.
Naimatullah Khan informed the meeting that in principle, he was ready to endorse the Naib Nazim’s decision. But, he added, Mr Hasan himself agreed to nullify the deal in the greater interest of the city people.
Mr Khan said that he had been receiving reports that some members of the MMWA were intimidating meat merchants/butchers at slaughter houses and shops.
He warned of stern action against those indulging in profiteering or overcharging.
The city government’s notified list fixes prices of beef (with bones) at Rs70 per kg and beef (boneless) at Rs90 per kg. Rate of beef (small cow) has been prescribed as Rs80 for grade A and Rs75 for grade B. The prices of mutton qualities No.1, 2 and 3 have been fixed at Rs150, 140 and 120 per kg respectively.
Representatives of the MMWA, late Wednesday, approached the City Nazim again with a compromise formula under which they requested fixing of mutton prices as recommended by the association, i.e. Rs170 per kg, in exchange of their acceptance of beef prices.
The formula was rejected by the City Nazim who continued to insist on the official pre-Ramazan prices without any condition.
Reacting to the City Nazim’s stubborn attitude, Mr Iqbal Qureishi, general secretary of the MMWA announced that the association would resume the indefinite strike from Thursday.
