No relief for people in chicken rates despite passage of Eid.

Byline: Aamir Shafaat Khan

KARACHI -- There is no relief for consumers even after Eid as stakeholders in the poultry sector had further increased the price of live bird and its meat to Rs290 and Rs450-500 per kilo from Rs260 and Rs420-440 per kg, respectively, two days ahead of Eid.

Boneless chicken meat price rose to Rs650-700 per kg from Rs600 per kg.

Retailers said they were increasing prices because of rising prices in wholesale poultry rates.

Increase in prices appears to be surprising after Eid when demand usually goes down as people had already made excessive buying ahead of Eid and many customers still have white meat stocks in their freezers.

Compared to last year's Eid, many people had refrained from visiting their relatives and friends at lunch and dinner this year due to the coronavirus threat.

Besides, poultry demand is also going slow as marriages, valimas and engagement ceremonies are still banned.

However, online sale of chicken dishes remained high from restaurants, hotels and barbecue outlets.

The businessmen associated with the chicken industry took full advantage of red meat holidays as butchers were likely to resume their businesses on Thursday.

In the meantime, consumers only had poultry meat option for buying on Tuesday and Wednesday.

With the fresh jump in prices, chicken boneless price has almost come at par with...