KARACHI: In a move that has sent shockwaves through the city’s residents, the authorities have hiked the retail price of loose milk by Rs20, pushing the new price to Rs240 per kg.

According to a notification, issued by commissioner Syed Hasan Naqvi late on Monday night, the new pricing structure sets the price for farmers at Rs215 per kg, Rs225 for wholesalers, and Rs240 for retailers per kg.

The decision, effective immediately, adds to the woes of consumers already grappling with soaring living costs.

The price increase has been announced against the backdrop of long-standing demands from dairy farmers and retailers for a revision in milk prices.

Commissioner sets fresh milk retail price at Rs240 per kg

The farmers were demanding a substantial increase in milk price for the rising costs of fodder, transportation, and labour, which they claimed had made it increasingly difficult to maintain their businesses without a substantial increase in milk prices.

Dairy and Cattle Farmers Association President Shakir Umar Gujjar said that the increase in the milk price was too less than that they had demanded. “It is not possible for dairy farmers to continue their business with this meagre price,” he added.

Mr Gujjar said that the cost of milk production for farmers was about Rs300 per litre, while the new price was set at Rs215. “We will increase the price in June”, he said adding that the retail price was also bound to go up.

He said that the price of loose milk was bound to increase up to Rs300 per litre as prices of electricity, medicines, gas, livestock, fodder and other essential items were increasing following the petrol price hike.

Mr Gujjar warned that the dairy farmers would increase milk price unilaterally if not notified in June.

The milk retailers also rejected the increase of Rs20 per litre and said that the milk shops would be closed if the milk price was not increased in view of the increasing operational costs.

A representative of the Karachi Milk Retailers Welfare Association (KMRFA), Abdul Waheed Gaddi, said that they had been demanding for reasonable margins to bear operational costs, but to no avail. “The current increase in milk price will not serve any purpose,” he added.

Mr Gaddi said that KMRFA had serious reservations on the current increase which was “too less” than what they had been demanding. “We have already moved the Sindh High Court seeking appropriate increase in the retail price of milk and out petition will come up for hearing on April 15.”

Adulterated, poor-quality milk

Meanwhile, the quality of milk has been very poor across the city, though the city authorities have claimed that the milk price increase is subject to good quality of the commodity.

The retailers openly say that they had to compromise on the quality as the current price was not enough even to bear the operational expenditures, what to say of profit.

The decision to allow the increase in milk price also sparked debate, with many questioning the timing and the impact it would have on the already inflation-hit people.

Published in Dawn, April 2nd, 2026