MULTAN, Sept 2: As with every consumer product, the chicken price has registered an upward trend with the advent of Ramazan, with many poultry experts expecting further increase in the rates in the next few days.

Poultry traders blame it on low production and gradual increase in demand by Balochistan and Afghanistan. Although the federal and provincial governments claim having reduced the rates of edibles as part of the Ramazan Package, the rates of poultry products are rising.

Nazeer Ahmad, a trader who sends poultry birds to various parts of Balochistan, including Loralai, Quetta, Qila Saifullah, Kohlo, Musakhel and Chaman, as well to Afghanistan, said the wholesale rate of broiler jumped from Rs84 a kilogram to Rs88 (on Tuesday). He said the retail sale at most of the outlets also registered a sharp increase, with the open market facing shortage.

A consumer, Ali Abid, commented: “The government has failed to provide relief to the consumers even in the holy month despite tall claims.” He said two days ago the price of chicken was Rs130 a kilogram and now it had shot up to Rs140 even at the much-publicised Ramzan bazaars.

Chicken retailer Abdul Shakoor said they were getting birds at Rs92 a kilogram that included the transportation charges from poultry farms to the markets, commission of the broker; its actual rate being Rs88.

He said they were earning a nominal Rs8-10 against a kilogram. “We have to foot the bill of shop rent, labour charges, utility bills and miscellaneous expenditure,” he said while justifying charging high rates.

A Quetta-based poultry trader, Haji Mirza Khan, said the poultry rates had touched the peak and were further expected to go up as the production was below normal owing to high cost, disease pressure and a slump that hit the industry a couple of months back.

He said the traders were failing to get the desired quantity to meet the consumers’ demand on a daily basis. “How can they meet the growing demand of Balochistan and Afghanistan?” he asked.