Pakistani vendors overprice beef in local market

Beef prices have gone out of control across Lahore as the district management failed to stop overcharging by meat sellers.

The official prices of beef are PKR110 (US$1.31) for the open market and PKR100-200/kg (US$1.19-2.38) for Sunday bazaars. However, beef was sold at PKR190-220/kg (US$2.26-2.62) across the city this week.

Beef sellers explained that the cost of livestock had increased drastically while the government had not revised the meat rates for a long time. Previously, a healthy cow or calf was available at PKR8,000-10,000 (US$95.34-119.17) but had now almost doubled. They said the electricity charges and wages of labour had also risen.

The country's rampant animal smuggling has also contributed to the hike in cattle prices. Afghanistan traders had been purchasing animals from the local market at higher prices, pushing the rates up.

In Lahore, there are currently three slaughterhouses operated by the district government and one by the Cantonment Board. Around 400 to 450 cows are slaughtered on a daily basis.