Once again, the prices of beef and mutton in Karachi have risen, with butchers increasing them by Rs. 200 per kilogram. Beef now costs Rs. 1600 per kilogram, while mutton is priced at Rs. 2400 per kilogram.
This price hike has occurred just before Eid-ul-Fitr, a period when meat consumption typically rises.
Butchers attribute these increases to heightened meat exports to the Middle East and other countries, as well as the smuggling of cattle to places like Iran and Afghanistan.
This surge in demand has driven cattle prices to record highs, prompting butchers to pass on these expenses to consumers.
As of this week, veal (Bachia) meat without bone is being sold at Rs. 1600 per kilogram and with bone at Rs. 1400 per kilogram. Mutton retailers are charging Rs. 2400 per kilogram.
In comparison to January prices, veal meat without bone has risen from Rs. 1200 per kilogram to Rs. 1600 per kilogram, while mutton prices have increased from Rs. 1900 per kilogram to Rs. 2400 per kilogram.
Despite government monitoring, which remains ineffective, meat merchants attribute the ongoing market fluctuations to reasons such as increased exports and transportation costs.
In essence, the spike in beef and mutton prices in Karachi is attributed to shifts in global demand and logistical hurdles, impacting consumers during this celebratory season.
