ISLAMABAD: Despite government’s claim about the decrease of consumer prices, meat prices are steadily going up in the federal capital.

During a visit to various markets in Islamabad, Dawn noticed that boneless beef was available at Rs1500 to Rs1600 per kg.

“I used to purchase boneless beef, but today I went for beef with bone as it is available at Rs1200 while boneless meat is selling at Rs1600,” said Salamat Raja , a resident of G-7, at Sitara Market. He said prices of vegetables were almost under control, but beef was becoming more expensive.

Meanwhile, a resident of Margalla Town, Mohammad Khan, said in his area beef was selling at Rs1600 per kg without any price list.

Due to export and smuggling, prices of cattle have already gone up, says representative of butchers

“I wanted to purchase meat without bone from Margalla Town where it was available at Rs1600. Then I visited Aabpara Market and got it for Rs1500 per kg,” he said, adding beef was selling at different rates in markets. “There should be a unified rate list for entire Islamabad,” he said.

On the other hand, butchers said animal prices had gone up leading to price hikes.

The deputy commissioner Islamabad could not be approached for his comments.

However, All-Pakistan Jamiatul Quresh Meat Welfare Association President Khurshid Qureshi while talking to Dawn denied that beef without bone was selling at Rs1600. He said butchers in some areas were selling it at Rs1500 kg.

“There is the issue of demand and supply in Islamabad. Secondly, due to export and smuggling, prices of animals have already gone up,” he said.

Beef without bone was available in markets against Rs1400 in Ramazan, but its prices have increased these days.

“Yes, we sold beef without bone against Rs1400 in Ramazan as we cooperated with the district administration by earning almost no profit,” he said. To bring down the prices of beef under control, he added, the government should control its export and smuggling. He said the notified rate of beef without bone was Rs1400 but that was not affordable for butchers.

“We have already requested the district administration for an increase in the rate from Rs1400 to Rs1500 and for beef with bone from Rs1150 to 1250, and mutton from Rs2200 to Rs2300,” he said and added that if export and smuggling were not brought under control, in coming months the prices could face a further increase.

“There is the growing issue of demand and supply and the government should focus on promoting cattle farming in the country.” He also demanded that for butchers of Islamabad there should be a wholesale animal market and a separate slaughterhouse.

Upgradation of slaughterhouse

Meanwhile, for the upgradation of Sihala/Humak slaughterhouse, a meeting was held at the CDA headquarters with Chairman Mohammad Ali Randhawa in the chair on Friday.

The meeting was also attended by the deputy commissioner Rawalpindi. The slaughterhouse falls in Islamabad and is being run by Rawalpindi administration.

The CDA in collaboration with the Rawalpindi administration wants to rehabilitate and upgrade the facility so that butchers of both the cities could use it.

Currently, in the absence of any such facility in Islamabad, butchers are slaughtering animals in their houses and or private slaughterhouses. The butchers of Islamabad have been demanding a slaughterhouse in the capital for decades. The CDA on several occasions had allotted plots for the slaughterhouse but only to cancel it later on.

Some years ago, a plot was allotted in I-11 but the environment protection body raised objections.

A press release issue by CDA said relevant officers briefed the meeting on the construction of a state-of-the-art slaughterhouse to meet the requirements of the twin cities.

The CDA chairman stated that on the direction of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif a slaughterhouse was being constructed for the twin cities. The meeting told that the inception study for the slaughterhouse had been completed.

Mr Randhawa directed for a review of the supply and demand dynamics for meat in the twin cities. He stated that a meat board comprising joint administration of the twin cities and all relevant stakeholders should be formed. He also instructed officials to study best slaughterhouse models in Karachi and Lahore.

“To ensure quality standards, Chairman CDA directed the formation of a joint monitoring mechanism involving officials from the Islamabad and Rawalpindi administrations.” He added that the project’s objective was to ensure the provision of high-quality, hygienic meat in accordance with health standards in the twin cities.

The deputy commissioner Rawalpindi said the administrations of the twin cities would work together to establish a modern slaughterhouse for the residents.

Published in Dawn, April 19th, 2025