Punjab Lets Shopkeepers to Control Chicken Prices Themselves
In April 2025, the Punjab government completely changed its policy by withdrawing the official control chicken prices across the province. Allowing shopkeepers to fix chicken prices on their own. However, the government fixes rates only for live chicken. The Punjab government indeed exercised thorough control so that the price of chicken meat remained stable within the economy and prevented price gouging for consumers. Official rates were announced regularly, and price control mechanisms were enforced through the Price Control Council under the Punjab Price Control of Essential Commodities Act 2024. For example, chicken meat was priced at Rs. 595 per kilogram, and live chicken prices were also fixed to prevent market volatility.
Deregulation of Chicken Meat Prices
On April 4, 2025, the Punjab government announced the end of fixation of prices for chicken meat through a notification. According to this decision taken in the sixth meeting of the Price Control Council, only live chicken rates are to be officially termed from now on, while it shall be left to market forces and the discretion of shopkeepers themselves.
اپریل 2025 کو پنجاب حکومت نے ایک نوٹیفکیشن کے ذریعے مرغی کے گوشت کی قیمتوں کا تعین ختم کرنے کا اعلان کیا۔ پرائس کنٹرول کونسل کے چھٹے اجلاس میں کیے گئے اس فیصلے کے مطابق اب سے سرکاری طور پر صرف زندہ چکن کے نرخ بتائے جائیں گے جبکہ اسے مارکیٹ فورسز اور دکانداروں کی صوابدید پر چھوڑ دیا جائے گا۔
Reasons Behind Deregulation
The following are some of the reasons that made the Punjab government decide to deregulate chicken rates:
Market Distortions: Official prices had not varied during the past six weeks, even in instances when supply and demand changed, which splits an economic principle in half.
Governance Difficulties: It was a criticism of the enforcement of control chicken prices and a large nexus of mafia-like groups unlawfully grasping rates.
Encouragement to Market Efficiency: It is thought that by pricing items themselves, shopkeepers become subject to market discipline and thus, they may improve overall supply chain responsiveness and reduce activities regarding the black market.
Fix Chicken Prices after Deregulation
Ever since deregulation has taken place, chicken rates have become all the more volatile and certainly higher than the earlier fixed price of Rs. 595 per kilogram. For example, in Rahim Yar Khan, the price of retail meat has soared to about Rs. 620 per kilogram while live meat is selling at an official price of Rs. 358 per kg. A similar phenomenon is happening in Lahore, where retail prices have risen from Rs. 760-780 per kg, well above the officially defined rates, indicating a lack of effective control chicken prices.
Impact on Consumers
Additionally, deregulation has brought great disappointment among consumers due to high and fluctuating rates. Consumers say that they might be exploited by the shopkeepers under these conditions, as these have been granted the complete freedom to charge higher rates without government intervention. This has led to calls for restoring controlled pricing or instituting some new mechanisms so that consumers are protected against price manipulations.
Conclsuion
The Punjab government has taken a significant policy turn away from the present one of controlled pricing, allowing shopkeepers to fix chicken prices based on their market judgment. With this deregulation comes the potential for efficiency and flexibility, but equally, there are risks of price manipulation and consumer hardship. In the long run, effective government monitoring, protection of consumer rights, and a supportive framework for the market would be indispensable in developing a fair and stable poultry market in Punjab.
