ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): The government has decided to make affordable mutton, beef, and chicken meat available to the nation in view of the increasing prices nationwide.
Reports indicated that agriculture and livestock industries were also hard hit by recent floods, resulting in the price hike of meat and poultry items.
The ministry has also recommended a short-term ban on exporting mutton, beef, chicken, and eggs in order to stabilize the local market. Officials are of the view that curbs on exports for a short term would lead to a decline in domestic prices.
The sources added that the sudden spike in red meat prices has also affected poultry prices. The official price of beef is Rs800 per kg and of mutton is Rs1,600 per kg.
But in Lahore and other urban areas of the country, meat is not being sold at official rates.
Mutton is being sold at Rs2,500 to Rs3,000 per kilogram in most markets, way above the government-designated rate.
Likewise, beef is being sold for Rs1,300 to Rs1,500 in Pakistan.
The ministry would seal the export ban proposal shortly to make the meat available at affordable prices to the local consumers.
