Chicken prices have increased phenomenally in Karachi, Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad and Toba Tek Singh right after the Eidul Fitr holidays, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Saturday. 

The new price of live bird per kg has now reached Rs440 with an increase of Rs40 per kg in port city of Karachi while the chicken meat is being available at Rs600 per kg.

The increase in prices is due to the below-the-target production of chickens in the poultry industry amid scorching heat and due to increase in demand as well, due to much higher rates of mutton and beef which are out of the reach of the poor.

The 24News TV channel reported that citizens in Lahore severely criticized the sudden increase in live chicken prices.

Citizens said that they have high hopes from the new government but it seems the new rulers have failed to control the inflation.   

The prices in Lahore were increased due to inflated prices of protein feed that is essential for the poultry industry. 

The shopkeepers put the blame on the poultry farms as the supply is not enough from farms to meet the demands in the market. The prices shoot up due to the kickstart of wedding seasons that began right after the Edi holidays. 

Chairman of Poultry Association Dr Sajjad Arshad said the prices are increasing due to inflated prices of soybean, feed, corn and medicines related to the poultry industry.   

He demanded subsidies on imported items related to the poultry industry to lower down the prices in the market. 

The price of live bird also increased by Rs100 per kg in Multan. 

The price of chicken has also increased in Faisalabad where it increased by Rs91 per kg to reach Rs590 per kg.

Reporters Baseem Ifthikhar, Saeed Ahmed, Muhammad Bilal Dogar