In Rawalpindi, chicken prices have surged dramatically even after Eid-ul-Fitr, adding to public frustration. Chicken meat is now selling at Rs. 950 per kg in the city and Rs. 1,000 in surrounding areas, while live chicken costs Rs. 650 per kg in Rawalpindi and Rs. 670 in nearby suburbs.
Despite the official rate being fixed at Rs. 412 per kg, there is no sign of enforcement. Price control officials are absent from the scene, and shopkeepers continue charging inflated rates. A boycott campaign by citizens has failed to yield any results.
The Poultry Association blames the sharp rise on a mismatch between supply and demand. “The market supply hasn’t caught up with the demand, which tripled before Eid,” said Khurshid Abbasi, Vice President of the association. He added that feed and medicine costs have risen by nearly 300%, further pushing up prices.
Locals complain that similar price hikes were seen in watermelon and sugar. Watermelon reached Rs. 120 per kg during Eid, compared to Rs. 20 earlier.
Sugar is now being sold at Rs. 180 per kg, despite an official rate of Rs. 164. In response, the Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner has stopped releasing official prices for basic goods like flour, sugar, and ghee.
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