ISLAMABAD: In the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, poultry chicken costs have surged to Rs 432 per kg, while poultry eggs are priced at Rs 420 per dozen in the open market as of Wednesday.
A recent market survey indicates that poultry chicken meat is now priced at Rs 626 per kg. Over the past few months, poultry chicken and eggs prices have consistently exceeded Rs 400 per kg and dozen, respectively, straining consumers’ purchasing power.
The twin cities have witnessed a substantial 35 percent increase in the prices of poultry items over the last eight months, which has caused significant market volatility.
The market survey reveals a 35 percent surge in the price of poultry chicken and a corresponding 30 percent increase in poultry eggs during the same period.
Dr. Sajjad Arshad, former Chairman of the Pakistan Poultry Association (PPA), attributed the current price hike to demand and supply imbalances. He highlighted a nationwide crisis in the poultry market, attributing it to rising input costs and the overall cost of doing business.
Dr. Arshad expressed concern over the closure of small businesses and poultry farms, particularly in provinces such as Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, emphasizing the widespread impact of the economic crisis on the poultry sector.
He underscored the expensive nature of imported poultry feed ingredients, notably soybean, and mentioned disruptions in imports at the Karachi port as contributing factors to the poultry price surge.
Dr. Sarosh, a poultry feed industrialist and former President of the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, highlighted the importance of soybean as a primary ingredient in poultry feed, stating it is imported from countries such as America, Brazil, and Argentina. —APP/70
