MULTAN: Meat prices have surged to record levels across Pakistan, with chicken and red meat being sold far above official rates, prompting public outrage and renewed concerns over market regulation and price enforcement mechanisms.
In Islamabad, chicken meat is retailing at an astonishing Rs 900 to Rs 1,200 per kilogram, while live chicken is priced between Rs 540 and Rs 650 per kilogram—well above the official benchmark. A similar trend is visible in Rawalpindi, where live broiler chicken, officially capped at Rs 412 per kilogram, is being sold for up to Rs 580, and meat prices have crossed Rs 900 per kilogram.
A regulatory loophole is exacerbating the situation: the Punjab government has set prices for live chicken but not for processed broiler meat, allowing sellers to exploit the gap.
In Lahore, broiler meat is being sold at Rs 750 per kilogram, with premium cuts like Safi meat reaching Rs 880. Consumers also report that many shops are not displaying official rate lists.
Multan has seen chicken prices rise from Rs 412 to Rs 700 per kilogram, while in Karachi, the price stands at Rs 850—significantly higher than the official Rs 650 rate.
Red meat is experiencing similar inflationary pressure. In Rawalpindi, large meat is priced between Rs 1,400 and Rs 1,500 per kilogram, despite an official rate of Rs 800. Small meat, officially Rs 1,600, is being sold for up to Rs 2,300. Karachi’s goat meat prices have also jumped, now ranging from Rs 2,500 to Rs 2,800 per kilogram, far exceeding the Rs 2,000 ceiling.
Boneless and boned heifer meat in Karachi is selling at Rs 1,600 and Rs 1,400 per kilogram respectively, against official prices of Rs 1,150 and Rs 1,000.
The sharp rise in prices and unchecked brackly newseering have sparked calls for immediate government intervention. Consumer groups are urging authorities to enforce price controls, crack down on violators, and introduce transparency measures to stabilize the market and ease the burden on citizens.