* Display rates different from selling price

* A consumer rights activist says butchers’ monopoly would end if consumers announce boycott

By Shabbir Sarwar

LAHORE: The citizens have been forced to purchase meat on increased prices owing to the failure of the city district government to implement its price lists, Daily Times on Wednesday.

Mutton was being sold for Rs 460-480 per kilogramme in the open market against government-fixed price of Rs 350. Beef was available for Rs 250 against government rate of Rs 200. Chicken, the largest source of protein and third most consumed food item in the country was being sold for Rs 154.Live chicken was priced at Rs 102. Chicken price is being fixed on daily basis keeping in view the demand and supply in the market, while the price of mutton and beef are fixed.

It was observed that most shopkeepers displayed official rate lists at their shops, yet they were selling mutton and beef on increased prices. Ghulam Akbar, a consumer, said he had bought mutton from a shop in Gulberg for Rs 470 a kilogramme. When asked if he had noticed the price list, he replied nobody was selling mutton for Rs 300 and it was the government’s responsibility to ensure implementation of its rate lists. “Government officials support butchers and they violate the law,” he added.

A butcher remarked that the price lists were displayed for government officials and not for customers. “In case of not displaying rate list, government official might impose fine,” he said.

District Coordination Officer (DCO) Sajjad Ahmed Bhutta, admitted that the problem existed. “Non-implementation of the price lists could be right and we are holding a meeting of the price control committee, may be tomorrow, to address this issue,” he said adding that chicken price was being settled on a daily basis by a three-member committee representing livestock department, farmers and Pakistan Poultry Association. The committee meets every night and fixes the price, keeping in view demand and supply of chicken.

Bhutta said that an active campaign was launched for enforcement of price lists during the last few months and this campaign would be reactivated soon after the price control committee meeting.

A consumer rights activist, Ghulam Murtaza, said, “If the people of the area some how afford boycotting purchase of meat in protest, the monopoly of butchers would be finished in few days.” “Getting implementation of the official rates of commodities is also a responsibility of the citizens and consumers as boycotting purchase of meat can resolve the issue,” he said.