As Eid-ul-Fitr approaches, the affordability of chicken meat has plummeted for the impoverished, with prices skyrocketing per kilogram across the country. In the bustling streets of Lahore, the provincial capital, chicken prices have surged in tandem with the nationwide trend. Joining the upward spiral of beef and mutton costs, chicken has now slipped out of reach for the lower and middle classes. With Eid festivities looming, a noticeable surge in chicken prices has emerged in the market. Profiteers are seizing the opportunity ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, intensifying the struggle for the average consumer to put meat on the table. Similarly, in Karachi, the price of chicken meat typically hovers between Rs. 760 to Rs. 800 per kilogram. Despite the official rates set by the Commissioner Karachi—Rs. 428 for live chicken and Rs. 666 for chicken meat—official prices remain elusive in the city's markets.

Meanwhile, in the federal capital of Islamabad, chicken meat fetches Rs. 740 per kilogram, while in Peshawar, it surpasses Rs. 600 per kilogram. During the holy month of Ramadan, chicken meat prices surged from Rs. 410 to Rs. 475 per kilogram. Similarly, at the outset of Ramadan, prices leaped from Rs. 595 to Rs. 690 per kilogram. In the last four weeks of Ramadan, chicken meat prices escalated by 10 to 12 percent on Saturdays and Sundays compared to regular days, exacerbating inflationary strains on the populace. Citizens bemoan the lack of effective measures to curb prices, which have left many struggling to afford basic sustenance. With rising inflation casting a pall over livelihoods nationwide, access to even the most essential food items remains a daunting challenge for many.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan