CHINIOT: Meat vendors went on strike in Chiniot City on Thursday in protest at the district government’s “punitive actions against profiteers”. There are 100 meat shops in the city.

The district administration has set the price of mutton at Rs1,350 and beef at Rs650 per kilo, which meat vendors ignored. They charged Rs1,600 per kg for mutton and Rs750 for beef.

Butchers were urged to adhere to the official tariffs by price magistrates with a warning that during Ramazan, violators would face a Rs50,000 fine, arrest, or both. Because of the warning, merchants went on strike, and people were unable to buy meat on the first day of fasting.

The meat dealers’ organisation also held a protest against the administration’s arrogance.

Anjuman Qasaban President Jamal Abdul Nasir said that the rates of livestock have gone up due to inflation in the market. “We buy animals at higher prices and cannot sell meat at the official price,” he explained, adding that they had been forced to go on strike, which would continue until their demands were met.

He demanded that either the administration fix the price of meat according to the sale price of livestock in the cattle market or abstain from taking punitive measures if they charge prices based on demand and the supply chain on the market.

They offered to engage the district government in dialogue to resolve the matter.

Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Asif Raza, however, directed 30 price magistrates to take stern action against profiteers and those charging more than fixed prices of vegetables, fruits, grains, and meat.

The maximum amount of a fine would be imposed, and if the violation is repeated, a profiteer shopkeeper would be jailed after the registration of a case against them. He said the butchers wanted to force the administration not to take notice of their price hike, which would not be allowed.

Published in Dawn, March 24th, 2023