Chicken Price Plummets in Karachi Following Border Closure
The price of chicken in Karachi has seen a substantial decrease recently. This comes as a direct result of the border closure with Afghanistan, which has halted trade in poultry products like birds, feed, and eggs. SindhNews.com reports that consumers have been surprised by the fall, with some initially suspecting a disease outbreak among the poultry.
Impact of Border Closure on Chicken Prices
Kamal Akhtar Siddiqui, the general secretary of the Sindh Poultry Wholesalers Association (SPWA), dismissed disease concerns. He clarified that the border closure was the primary driver for the price reduction. Live bird prices are now hovering between Rs350-Rs370 per kg, a significant drop from the Rs460-540 per kg seen in September.
Earlier in mid-October, when the border closure began, live bird prices plummeted to Rs310-360 per kg. Boneless meat was available at Rs650-700 per kg at that time.
Retailers are offering poultry meat with giblets for Rs400-480, and clean meat is priced from Rs530-580 per kg. Boneless chicken now ranges from Rs700-800 per kg, down from Rs1,000-1,100 in September. Mr. Siddiqui said that chicken is still cheaper than red meat and that cheaper chicken is a big relief for many low- and middle-income people.
Discrepancies and Concerns
On November 23, the Karachi commissioner set official rates at Rs288 per kg for live birds and Rs435 per kg for meat without giblets. However, these rates are not widely followed by retailers. Mr. Siddiqui urged the commissioner to address the unchanged prices of chicken dishes at eateries. He emphasized that consumers deserve price relief considering the drop in poultry rates.
Conclusion
The temporary closure of the border with Afghanistan has resulted in a noticeable decrease in chicken prices within Karachi. While this provides some relief to consumers purchasing chicken, the prices of chicken dishes at eateries have not adjusted accordingly, creating a cause for concern.