The Pakistani government is reportedly considering imposing a temporary ban on meat and poultry exports to stabilize domestic prices, ARY News reported on Thursday, citing sources.
According to officials from the Ministry of Production, the proposal aims to ensure the availability of affordable meat and poultry for local consumers amid surging prices. They added that recent floods have devastated the agriculture and livestock sectors, reducing production and triggering unjustified price hikes across the country.
The ministry noted that the rising prices of red meat have also driven up poultry costs, even as exports to Middle Eastern countries continue at a high pace. Currently, mutton is being sold at Rs2,500–3,000 per kilogram, far exceeding the official rate of Rs1,600, while beef costs around Rs800 per kilogram.
Officials believe that temporarily halting exports could help restore balance in the local market and make meat products more affordable for the public.
In a separate development, police arrested two men near the Railway crossing in Mosa Colony, Karachi, for allegedly selling dead chickens to eateries and restaurants. The suspects, identified as Anwar and Kamal, were caught supplying tainted poultry to various areas, including F.B. Area and New Karachi. Authorities recovered 80 kilograms of dead chickens from their possession.
Police investigations revealed that the accused were shopkeepers who routinely bought chickens that had died during transport to markets across the city.
