MANSEHRA: The poultry dealers on Tuesday observed shutter down strike to protest against the wholesale traders for not bringing down the chicken price despite a big decrease in its rates in the national market.

“We have been left with no other option but to go on strike as local poultry owners have not been providing us chicken at low rates despite reduction in its prices at national level,” Mohammad Khurram, president of poultry shops owners association, told media persons here.

Chicken shops remained closed in the city markets and its suburbs on the second conductive day on Tuesday and people had to rely on beef and mutton.

Mr Khurram said chicken prices had plunged to as low as Rs80 per kg, but the local poultry wholesalers didn’t reduce the price as they sold the product to Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir at high prices.

He called for banning the transportation of chicken and eggs to GB and AJK to help bring the prices down in Mansehra.

Mr Khurram said poultry industry had been facing financial crunch owing to fluctuating prices of chicken for the last three months which needed to be addressed to protect the sector.

He said a poultry association’s delegation would meet the deputy commissioner on Wednesday (today) to request him to ask the wholesale poultry traders to bring down the prices.

The poultry association’s leader said if their demand wasn’t met they would extend their strike across Hazara division. 

MUHARRAM SECURITY: The district administration has sought cooperation of ulema of different schools of thought for maintaining peace during Muharram.

“We would follow the National Action Plan in latter and spirit to maintain peace during Muharram, and will need ulema’s cooperation in this regard,” deputy commissioner Aamir Khattak told a meeting of religious scholars from various sects on Tuesday.

Mr Khattak said section 144 had already been imposed in the district, banning hate speeches, display of arms and use of loudspeakers.

“When you would respect each other and avoid hate speeches it would help create a friendly environment where nobody could dare disturb peace and tranquility,” Mr Khattak asked the participants.

Published in Dawn, October 14th , 2015

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