Prices of all meat kinds have registered about 20% increase in Pakistan last year.

According to the latest official statistics the price of chicken increased by 23%, mutton 17%, and beef 19% during the period under review.

The government has cited three main factors, which influenced upward increase in the prices of meat. These include disruption in movement of livestock due to security situation, uncontrolled smuggling of livestock to neighbouring Afghanistan and increase in transportation cost following the impact of rising trend in world oil prices.

The other conditions that contributed to the higher meat prices were increase in prices of fodder on account of lesser rainfall in the country. During December and January severe drought condition prevailed all over the country, which resulted in lesser production of fodder.

The government said it had taken a number of steps as part of its strategy to control prices of meat, which include improving supply chain of meat by allowing import of livestock and meat.

For import purposes, the animal quarantine fee of PKR 100 (US$1.17) and test fee of PKR 75 (US$0.88) per animal have been waived.

Moreover, the provincial governments have been requested to check illegal movement of live animals across borders with Afghanistan and Iran.

A project for livestock development and meat production is under implementation. The project is providing technical and financial assistance of about 15% for the infrastructure development at livestock farms.

The project has completed more than 9,000 feed-lot fattening operation in which more than 8,000 tonnes of quality beef and more than 2,000 tonnes of mutton have been produced.