MANSEHRA: The price of chicken has jumped to Rs223 per kg in the local markets after Eid holidays.

“Price of chicken has shot up to record high after Eidul Fitr as prior to Eid the prices were in the reach of people,” Jabran Ali, a local resident, complained.

Mr Ali claimed wholesalers withheld chicken supply after Eid, causing rise in its price in the market. He claimed poultry mafia in Rawalpindi and Islamabad controlled the chicken price and that the government was least bothered to take action against such elements.

Another resident said he didn’t want to purchase chicken owing to its high price, adding beef and mutton were also in short supply in the bazaars. He urged the government to bring down prices of food items, including chicken.

Yaseen, a poultry seller on Abbottabad road, said Rs223 per kg price of chicken was the highest in Mansehra district as earlier record high price was Rs220 per kg some four years ago. He said at Eidul Fitr chicken rates jumped to Rs198 per kg, adding chicken sold at Rs110 per kg in March. He said high rates were because the chicken was short in supply in the market. Yaseen hoped that as chicken supply improved, its prices would come down.

SHOT DEAD: Two youngsters of Kohistan were gunned down in Allai area of Battagram district on Thursday night.

Unknown assailants shot dead Mohammad Nabi and his friend, Mohammad Faraz in Chim Rachari Pashtu area and fled.

The victims were coming back to Kohistan when they came under attack.

The Allai police registered FIR into the double murder and began investigations.

Published in Dawn, July 25th, 2015

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