KARACHI, Nov 9: Chicken prices have touched the ceiling, rising to Rs80 from Rs76 on November 1, Rs70 on October 1 and Rs60 per kg on September 1, 2005. Similarly, poultry meat prices are currently ruling at Rs135-140 per kg from Rs130 on November 1, Rs120 on October 1 and Rs105 on September 1.

As a result of this, owners of broasted chicken outlets have also increased the price by Rs20 for a full broast, while chicken tikka sellers have raised the price by Rs5 from Eid day.

The increase in chicken prices has become an annual ritual, especially just few days ahead of Eid. Market sources blame farmers, hatchery owners, wholesalers, etc., for this artificial rise, while owners of chicken tikka and broasted chicken outlets follow the suit.

Mutton prices are currently ruling at Rs220-250 per kg, while beef with bones is selling at Rs130-140 per kg.

As there is no price check by the government on any commodity round the year, stakeholders in chicken trade enjoy a freehand in revising prices upward at their will. They had also rejected the city government’s demand to bring down prices in Ramazan and instead raised the prices by Rs6 per kg in the last 10 days of the holy month.

The price regulators also have no control over owners of broasted chicken and chicken tikka outlets who are selling a quarter of chicken at an exorbitant rate.

Karachi Wholesale Poultry Association general-secretary Kamal Akhtar Siddiqui defended the soaring price of poultry products, linking it to an increase in prices of one-day-old chick to Rs24 by hatchery owners as against the actual cost of Rs10 at open house farming and Rs12 per chick at control house farming (automatic equipments). Besides, the price of poultry feed has also surged to Rs96 per 50-kg bag to Rs725 from Rs629 in the last few months.

He also attributes the increase in prices to rising demand for chicken that have injected new zeal among people to invest in poultry farming. Besides, Mr Siddiqui maintained, people now preferred to buy chicken rather than mutton or beef.

Poultry feed and chicken dealers had already urged the government to check the blackmailing tactics of some hatchery owners for raising the prices of one-day-old chick artificially, he added.

Marriage season has also kicked off and the city government has already imposed a ban on serving meal in marriage and valima reception. Some marriage hall owners are strictly following the ban by not allowing meal at their halls, while others are violating it, as the notification about the ban is yet to be issued.

In case of full implementation of the decision, a family has to arrange dinner for only 150—200 close relatives inside the house. Many families who do not want to arrange dinner at their residence usually send various dishes to the houses of bride or bridegroom. The consumption of chicken definitely falls but not to that extent as dinner arrangements continue on small scale.