LAHORE: Poultry traders on Sunday deferred their plan of starting another round of strike from Monday (today) after the provincial government constituted a high-level committee to look into the chicken wholesalers and retailers’ concerns, especially related to the price mechanism.

On the other hand, the chicken meat price has been ranging between Rs300 to Rs350 per kilogram for the last many days due to decrease in supply from the farms to wholesalers.

“We had a plan to go for the second round of strike from today (Monday). But the government on Sunday constituted a committee headed by the livestock department secretary to review our demands and settle the issue for evolving a smooth chicken market mechanism. The meeting of the committee, which also includes representatives of the Lahore Poultry Association, will also be held very soon,” the association’s president Tariq Javed told Dawn.

“Therefore, the poultry traders’ representatives have unanimously decided to defer the strike plan till the outcome of the committee meeting,” he added.

Earlier, in a meeting, a majority of the poultry association office-bearers from Lahore, Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Chakwal, Multan, Wah Cantt and other cities were of the view that a strike should to observed in protest against what they called the government apathy towards them but they deferred the plan hoping the committee would consider their demands.

“We have told the government clearly that regulating the prices by forcing the traders and retailers is not acceptable, as it is causing financial losses to us. How can we sell chicken meat at 260 per kg when it costs us Rs280 or so per kg,” he said. “And where was the government when we were selling meat at Rs150 or so in Ramzan,” he asked.

Earlier, a chicken wholesaler told this reporter that the traders had clearly told their associations to get the issue resolved within next couple of days, otherwise they would have no option but to observe strike.

Deploring the high prices a customer in a Johar Town market said no shopkeeper was following the notified government rates, except those in Sunday bazaars.

RAIL OPERATION: Pakistan Railways will start running 10 more trains (five each Up and Down) from Monday (today), as the reservation offices started seat booking.

According to PR, the trains that would resume operation from Monday include Sir Syed Express, Karachi Express, Shalimar Express, Bahauddin Zakriya Express and Rail Car. “With addition of 10 more trains, the total number of trains in operation would be 40 (20 each Up and Down),” an official said.

Published in Dawn, June 1st, 2020