Rao Dilshad Hussain

Price hike is a severe issue that the masses are facing right now. The major issue that the people are facing is the non availability of beef and mutton mainly because of its legal or illegal trade to Afghanistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE and many others countries. According to the sources, More than 5000 cows and goats are being exported. Hundreds of trucks of animals are being smuggled to different countries without any checks and balances. This situation has brought shortage of meat in future.

Money plus talked to one of the district officers and many butchers to expose the reasons behind the price hike. Sources confided, “More than 300 cows and approximately 5000 goats are brought for slaughtering. Government is not interrupting to fix the prices. In fact, District Coordinator Officer has the mandate to fix and revise the meat prices. But it never happened after 2006. It shows that City District Government is doing nothing while dealers and butchers are the most powerful and influential people and converted into the cartels.”

On a query about price hike sources said, “Market forces have been charging according to their own whim because there is no association of the butchers that would deal with the issues of the butchers and other market forces, as poultry industry has. For instance poultry association decides the prices of poultry products’ on a daily basis and they are committed to implement their rates and decisions in this regard. On the other hand, if we analyse the situation of butchers and local animal traders, they have failed to evolve any pressure group till date that would fix or control the prices.”

Sources said, “Beef and mutton is now selling at high prices because of City District Government’s negligence. The city government fixed the prices of beef and mutton in 2006, which means that beef should be sold at Rs.110 per kg while mutton is worth Rs.220 per kg. Right now the slaughter houses sell mutton at Rs.370 to Rs.400 and the market has been selling at Rs.410 to Rs.473. The prices of beef ranges from Rs.150 to Rs.190 but consumers are paying Rs.230-250. The meat prices should not be differed in the market. The reason behind the differential pricing is because of DCO’s negligence as he has the mandate to look into this matter and revise the prices. There is a need for revision of the prices on an annual basis.

The prices of all general commodities have increased including that of the beef and mutton due to inflation and other expenditures of cattle contractors. But currently the cost is decided by the mafia of people who set the prices. Local government should be on board in this regard. The DCO should monitor the slaughter houses across the city at least once a month. It is only then that the issues regarding mutton and beef prices can be resolved. The government has not revised the prices since last four years and has left this matter on to the market forces.

Answering to a quest, “Existing slaughterhouses are not enough for the people. They are just providing 30% of the need and the remaining 70% is brought from cities like Kasur and Muridkey. They sell the meat according to the rates set by themselves. These slaughter houses have created a mafia which is one of the major reasons behind the price hike of meat. There are all together six slaughter houses that are minting money through exporting meat and animals, two among them located in Lahore, Kasur has three while single one is in Muridkey. Sources deplorably said, “They are directly responsible for the increment of the meat prices. At that time the whole exporters promised that they would not only export meat but also establish their own cattle farming. But unfortunately they are just exporting and doing nothing in terms of animal production. That is why meat shortage is expected soon.”

Zahid Bashir, Accounts Officer of the Zenith said, “We are exporting mutton, beef and chicken to the Middle East. We have our own slaughter house and our purchasing departments buy the cattle. After slaughtering them we sell here at zenith’s outlets and export as well. At the zenith outlet mutton sells at different prices. For instance mixed mutton can be bought at Rs.435 per kg, mutton neck’s piece is available at Rs.415, and shoulder’s piece can be bought at Rs.471 per kg while the leg’s meat is available at Rs.473.”

Umer Farooq is one of the butchers of the town was very much upset because of the fluctuation in the rates everyday. Talking to money plus he said, “The prices have been changing on a daily basis. DCO is ineffective and is a silent spectator. He doesn’t care about controlling the meat smuggling. More than 70% healthy cattle are being exported without any checks.All the slaughter houses have failed to fulfill Lahore’s requirements. Government should review the export policy regarding meat.” he demanded.

If the exporters continue with the current trend of meat smuggling, the situation will further deteriorate. Right now it is the duty of the government to encourage people to get into this business. Government should provide them soft loans and give them subsidies. It is only then prices could be controlled in the near future otherwise meat will be rare commodity. So proper cattle nursing and farming is the need of the hour and Central and provincial Governments should strictly implement it’s export policies in which the exporter are being involved to evolve their own animal farms.