Poultry prices in Karachi have experienced a sharp decline, with live bird rates dropping to Rs. 350 to Rs. 370 per kilogram following the suspension of poultry exports to Afghanistan. The Sindh Poultry Wholesalers Association (SPWA) said the price slump is directly linked to the border closure, which disrupted the movement of poultry birds, feed, eggs, and related products.
Retail prices have fallen significantly from September levels, when live birds were selling for Rs. 460 to Rs. 540 per kilogram. After the trade disruption in mid-October, prices further dropped to Rs. 310 to Rs. 360 per kilogram. Boneless chicken, which previously sold for up to Rs. 1,100 per kilogram, is now available at Rs. 700 to Rs. 800. Retailers currently offer poultry with giblets at Rs. 400 to Rs. 480 per kilogram, while clean meat is priced between Rs. 530 and Rs. 580. Experts attribute the price range to differences in breed and quality across shops.
Many consumers initially suspected a disease outbreak caused the sudden price drop, but SPWA General Secretary Kamal Akhtar Siddiqui clarified that no such outbreak has been reported. He attributed the decline solely to overproduction at farms and the halt in exports.
Although the Karachi commissioner had earlier set official rates at Rs. 288 per kilogram for live birds and Rs. 435 per kilogram for meat without giblets, enforcement has been weak. Many retailers continue to sell above the notified rates despite displaying the official list.
Despite falling wholesale and retail prices, consumers have seen little relief at restaurants. Dishes like chicken tikka, broast, seekh kebab, and chicken karahi remain priced high, with a one-kilogram chicken karahi costing Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 2,200—nearly three times the price of a live bird.
Siddiqui urged authorities to address the inflated pricing at eateries to ensure that the benefits of lower poultry costs reach consumers. He also highlighted that chicken remains the most affordable source of protein, compared with mutton priced at Rs. 2,300 to Rs. 2,500 per kilogram and veal at Rs. 1,400 to Rs. 1,600.