The unusual raise in chicken prices is stated to be a result of short supply, according to Business Recorder. Market sources say over 50 per cent of poultry products are being smuggled to Afghanistan, Iran and some other neighbouring countries for profits.

According to a random survey purchase power of chicken meat has gone beyond the limits of common man. A railways employee Ayyub Khan told APP that chicken was the only commodity which they could buy because of its low price. But, he is unable to purchase chicken meat due to its high rates.

A house wife, Humaira Hassan said her husband used to bring chicken meat thrice a week but now he cannot afford chicken meat within a limited income. Meanwhile, a wholesale dealer Rafiq Bhatti at Tollington Market said poultry cartels are behind the high poultry prices.

They fix poultry rates on a daily basis. "We are at their mercy and the district administration is paying no heed to this end," he added.

When contacted, the All Pakistan Poultry Association's (APPA) former President Abdul Basit, said that in every poultry farm, owing to long spells of power outages, thousands of birds had perished.

Most of the owners, he said, had already closed their farms due to deficit.