SWABI: The consumers complained on Monday that butchers had increased rates of beef and mutton on their own in disregard to the official rate list issued by the district administration.

Obaid Khan of Maneri Bala region told Dawn that the district administration failed to implement the official price list as butchers were adamant on selling meat, especially beef, at rates of their own free will.

Abid Ali, a consumer in the district headquarters, said butchers were also selling low quality meat. He claimed that the butchers kept the good quality meat for the relevant officials in a bid to get their permission to fleece consumers.

The consumers said the official rate of beef was Rs700 per kilogramme, but butchers were selling it from Rs800 to Rs900 per kg.

They said butchers were not ready to give any heed to their complaints.

A consumer said when he asked a butcher to observe the official price list, which was displayed at his shop, he simply refused and asked him to go elsewhere to purchase beef at the official rate.

When contacted, an official of the district administration told Dawn that no one would be allowed to violate the official rate list.

ONE KILLED: Unidentified assailants killed a man in Marghuz village here on Monday, Rescue 1122 officials said.

They said a rescue team reached the spot soon after being informed about the incident and shifted the critically injured person to Bacha Khan Teaching Hospital, Shahmansoor, before giving him first aid. However, the man succumbed to his injuries in the hospital.

The deceased was identified as Wajid Khan, 28.

Zaida police station officials said that cause of the incident was not known and they had not yet registered an FIR of the killing.

Published in Dawn, March 12th, 2024