Sharp Increase in Chicken, Mutton and Beef Prices Hits Consumers Ahead of Basant

Lahore (Qudrat Daily) – On the occasion of the colorful and festive celebration of Basant, the purchase of chicken, mutton and beef for traditional dishes has gone beyond the budget of the common citizen due to a sharp rise in prices.

The government has fixed the official price of chicken at Rs 526 per kilogram, but during the Basant days, market rates of chicken, mutton and beef have gone completely out of control. According to residents, mutton is being sold at butcher shops and supermarkets for Rs 2,800 to Rs 3,200 per kilogram, while beef is priced between Rs 1,200 and Rs 1,400 per kilogram, making it unaffordable for most buyers.

Citizens have also complained that substandard mutton, fruits and vegetables are being placed at DC counters in supermarkets, leading to serious public dissatisfaction over both quality and pricing.

The public has strongly urged the Deputy Commissioner and the Punjab government to take immediate steps to control the soaring prices of mutton and beef and ensure the availability of quality meat at reasonable rates.

Residents further said that ahead of Basant, not only kites and kite strings have become expensive, but daily food items have also been affected by inflation, dampening the festive spirit.

They warned that without effective government intervention, the sale of overpriced and substandard goods may further increase, stressing the need for urgent relief measures and strict price control so that people can celebrate Basant with ease and joy.