LAHORE (Kashmir English): Citizens already struggling with rising inflation are facing another financial burden as chicken and egg prices continue to exceed officially fixed rates in the open market.
According to the official price list, the retail price of broiler chicken has been fixed at Rs461 per kilogram. However, consumers report that chicken is being sold for as much as Rs520 per kilogram, resulting in a difference of Rs59 per kilogram.
Similarly, the official rate for live broiler chicken stands at Rs318 per kilogram, but it is reportedly being sold in the market for up to Rs399 per kilogram. The difference of Rs81 per kilogram has added to the concerns of consumers, particularly households that rely on chicken as a relatively affordable source of protein.
The situation is also affecting egg buyers. While the official price of farm eggs has been set at Rs249 per dozen, retailers are reportedly charging up to Rs300 per dozen. Consumers say they are being forced to pay significantly higher prices despite the availability of an official price list.
Citizens have expressed frustration over the gap between government-notified rates and actual market prices. They said that the official price list provides little relief if traders continue to charge prices above the prescribed limits.
Consumers have demanded that the relevant authorities take effective measures to enforce the official rates, conduct regular inspections, and take action against shopkeepers found overcharging customers.
They also called for greater monitoring of markets to ensure that essential food items remain available to the public at officially notified prices.
