MANSEHRA: The price of live chicken hit an all-time high of Rs280 per kg here on Saturday.

Poultry shop owner Mohammad Faisal told reporters that the bird was earlier sold for Rs275 per kg.

“We have always witnessed a slight increase in chicken and egg rates in Ramazan but this time around, the increase is unprecedented,” he said.

The shopkeeper blamed poultry wholesalers based in Rawalpindi and Lahore for the price hike.

He said chicken shops in the city and on its outskirts wore a deserted look.

Resident Ajmal Khan said Mansehra district was a leading chicken and egg producer in the country but unfortunately, the prices of poultry products were determined by wholesalers in Rawalpindi and Lahore.

Residents demand CM intervention

He wondered how the people could buy a two kilogrammes bird for Rs560. The resident demanded the chief minister intervene to regulate the chicken’s price like fruit and vegetable ones.

He also proposed a ban on the chicken’s transportation out of the district to bring its price down.

GOVT FLAYED: Leader of the opposition Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz retired Captain Mohammad Safdar has criticised the PTI government over inflation, unemployment and corruption in the country.

Mr Safdar told reporters in Oghi area on Saturday that the people had resented the ruling PTI’s policies by voting for the PML-N in the recent by-elections. He said the people considered PML-N supremo and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif as their saviour.

The PML-N leader said the government was victimising the Sharifs and other party leaders in the name of accountability but the latter won’t compromise principles.

Accompanied by his elder brother and MNA, Mohammad Sajjad Awan, and local MPA Naeem Sakhi, Mr Safdar visited the house of Saqib Bostan and offered Fateha for his mother, who passed away lately.

NEW DPO: Mohammad Salman assumed the charge of the Kolai-Palas district police officer on Saturday after a police contingent presented guard of honour to him.

He told reporters that maintaining law and order in the district was his top priority.

The DPO said he won’t spare police officials found to be negligent of duties, especially regarding registration of complaints and cases.

He said members of the police station staff should be polite and welcoming to complainants and address their issues effectively.

Published in Dawn, May 9th, 2021