MINGORA: Local residents on Friday complained butchers were not following the price list issued by district administration.

They said the price of beef fixed by the district administration was Rs320 per kilogramme, but no butcher followed the price list and sold beef at Rs400 or above in Mingora.

“The butchers have increased the rates of beef and mutton on their own in Ramazan,” Rafiqullah Khan, a resident of Panr area, said.

Abdul Hanif of Haji Baba area said a butcher argued with him when he asked him to follow the officially issued price list.

The consumers also complained that butchers were selling poor quality meat.

“There is no quality check by the district administration on butchers who transport meat from other cities compromising its quality,” Zahid Khan of Mingora said, adding the butchers were selling unhealthy and unhygienic meat.

“Today, I went to buy chicken from the meat market in Mingora, but found that meat was packed in plastic bags which seemed to be stale,” Arshad Ali of Gulkada said, adding he returned home without buying the product.

The residents said the district administration should take steps against the butchers and poultry shop owners to ensure sale of fresh meat and observance of government price list in Ramazan.

This correspondent attempted to contact officials of the district administration on the issue, but they did not receive the calls.

Published in Dawn, May 19th, 2018