LAHORE A Pakistan People's Party central leader has held Hamza Shahbaz Sharif responsible for increase in chicken meat price in Lahore, alleging that 'he is exporting its huge quantity to Gulf region.'

'The young Sharif has entered the business some six months ago and established around 100 controlled chicken sheds in Sundar. On getting better rates from the Gulf region Hamza has started exporting a huge quantity of white meat and for the purpose he is even buying the same from the market,' PPP Punjab finance secretary Aurangzeb Burki told Dawn on Tuesday.

'In order to beat his competitors Hamza has managed to get increased one-day old chick price from Rs15 to Rs75. The Sharifs' sheds are better in quality ensuring fast and safe growth of chicken.'

Burki also alleged that the Sharifs had also introduced their chicken feed by getting banned the 'cheap' one being imported from different countries. 'People now cannot afford chicken meat because of cartelisation of Hamza and other giants in the business,' he claimed.

The chicken price has touched Rs210 per kg in recent days in the local market. PML-N Senator Pervaiz Rashid has asked Mr Burki not to level allegations against Sharifs as to export anything is not a crime. 'If Mr Burki thinks the chicken meat price has shot up by exporting it he should better request his government in the Centre to impose a ban on it as the provincial government has got nothing to do with import and export.'

It is learnt that 'seven big production houses' are controlling around 55 per cent of the supply and they have managed to increase one-day chick's price from Rs15 (last year) to Rs76 now. This is over 400 per cent increase in chick price within a year, which has sent the entire market into a tailspin.

'It is a crude cartelisation of the entire market which has brought the production from one billion birds a year down to 550 million. They have reduced production of chick to create artificial shortage in the market and mint money. Instead of increasing profit through the sale of bigger volume, they are earning it through squeezed supplies and market manipulation,' a Punjab livestock official told Dawn.