Milk prices to remain unchanged: chicken, meat prices to be slashed in Ramazan

Prices of meat and chicken would be slashed by Rs 20 and Rs 10 per kg respectively in Ramazan, Business Recorder learnt Thursday. Representatives of the Sindh Poultry Association and Meat Merchants Association announced this at a meeting held with Sindh Minister for Supply and Prices Shoaib Bukhari.
According to sources, the meeting was arranged to pursue the wholesalers and retailers of meat and chicken, to slash the prices of these items in Ramazan to give relief to the masses. However, the prices of fresh milk would remain unchanged, they said. Sources apprised that a representative of the Meat Merchants Association Jahangir Qureshi announced to reduce the prices of meat by Rs 20 per kg.
Furthermore they said the general secretary of the Sindh Poultry Association Kamal Siddiqui was reluctant to reduce the prices of chicken, but after pursuance from the minister and other officials of the City District Government Karachi (CDGK), he announced the reduction in the prices of chicken.
Qureshi said the Enterprises and Investment Promotion (E&IP) Department of the CDGK does not contain the prices of meat in its list. He, however, has urged the minister and the EDO E&IP to include the prices of meat in the city government's list, sources said.
Sources have also apprised that a representative of the Pakistan Dairy Farmers Association Sikandar Nagori was insisting on increasing the prices of milk rather than bringing them down. They said the Secretary Implementation held a meeting with representatives of the dairy milk association on May 31 2010, but could not reach a decision regarding the prices of milk.
The milk being supplied by the dairy farmers in the local market has 3.5 percent fats against the fixed standard of 6.5 fats, they said and added that dairy farmers were mixing milk with water, ice, etc which poses serious threats to the health of its consumers.
Shaikh Mohammad Tehseen of Karachi Association of Foods and Nimco has also announced a reduction in the prices of 'jalebi', 'phaini' and 'khajla' by Rs 15 per kg and Rs 1 per 'samosa' during the month of Ramazan. The representatives of Pakistan Flour Mills Association Sindh chapter, have also assured provision of wheat flour to the people at Rs 20 per kg during Ramazan. According to sources, the representatives of wholesale and retailers markets have given assurances regarding the stable prices of essential commodities during Ramazan. They have also vowed to point out profiteer hoarders.