Official rates of beef and mutton increased by Rs50-100 per kg in Karachi

Karachi's city administration has raised the prices of beef and mutton by Rs50-100 per kg, according to new official rates notified by the Karachi commissioner. Beef prices, now at Rs1,050 and Rs1,350 with bones, have increased by Rs50 per kg from February's rates. Veal prices have also risen, with the official rate being Rs1,350 and Rs1,650 with bones, a Rs50 per kg increase. Mutton prices have jumped to Rs2,300 from Rs2,200, a Rs100 per kg hike.

Despite these official price increases, a significant disparity between official and market rates remains. Sensitive Price Index (SPI) data reveals that mutton rates in Karachi have soared to Rs2,200-3,000 per kg over the past one and a half months, up from Rs2,000-2,800 per kg. Market rates for veal are currently Rs1,500 and Rs1,700-1,800 per kg, depending on whether it comes with bones.

Meat merchants attribute the price hikes to rising meat exports. They also point to increased transport costs, driven by soaring LPG prices to Rs500-550 per kg from Rs380 a few months ago, coupled with high diesel rates. These factors have contributed to the overall cost of transporting meat, further fueling the price increases.