meat consumption and prices pattern in lahore

Meat Survey

REPORT

August 2008

Presented By Dr. Hamid Jalil

Planning & Evaluation Cell

Meat consumption and prices pattern in Lahore

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION:..............................................................................1METHODOLOGY................................................................2BACKGROUND OF LAHORE CITY:.......................................3

Livestock and livestock products:........................................................................3 To know the Supply chain of each category of meat consumed in Lahore............4

Legality:..................................................................................................................7 To know the legal and illegal slaughtering in Lahore............................................7

Price Determination:.............................................................................................8 To know price pattern and factors effecting price of beef, mutton, poultry, fish.. .8

Trend:...................................................................................................................10 To know the meat consumption trend in Lahore..................................................10

CHAPTER – 2 (Consumption)...........................................11Consumption:.......................................................................................................11

To assess the meat consumption of Lahore..........................................................11 To assess the category wise meat consumption of Lahore, beef, mutton, chicken, and fish..........................................................................................................................11

Marketing channels:............................................................................................15 To know the meat marketing system i-e, cattle market, fish market, poultry market in Lahore...........................................................................................................15 To know the meat sales system/shop etc in Lahore..............................................15

FINDINGS:.....................................................................17RECOMMENDATIONS:.....................................................18

Meat Survey

INTRODUCTION:

In response to the advertisement published by the Planning & Evaluation Cell L&DD Department in the ‘Daily The NEWS” dated 24-04-2008, our organization submitted a proposal for conducting survey on Meat Economics in Lahore. The objective of the survey was to have information/analysis of following TORs, so that the livestock department formulate workable strategies for provision of quality meat at affordable prices in addition to explore avenues for livestock producers to gain maximum benefits. TORs/Parameters:

o To know the Supply chain of each category of meat consumed in Lahore.

o To assess the meat consumption of Lahore.

o To assess the category-wise meat consumption of Lahore, beef, mutton, chicken, and fish.

o To know the meat marketing system i-e, cattle market, fish market, poultry market in Lahore

o To know the meat sales system/shops etc in Lahore

o To know the meat consumption trend in Lahore

o To know the legal and illegal slaughtering in Lahore.

o To know price pattern and factors effecting price of beef, mutton, poultry, fish.

Directorate of Planning & Evaluation Cell 1


METHODOLOGY

The citywide study regarding ‘Meat Consumption and Price Pattern in Lahore’ was conducted by the survey team of PROGRESS NGO in Lahore on the proposal of Directorate of Planning & Evaluation Cell L&DD Department Government of Pakistan. The outline of study was provided on 14 th May 2008 to get an update of the current developments, a detailed literature review and one to one meeting with some stakeholders/dealers and officials in the meat sector were conducted.

It is also important to note that this study is supported by the results of the ‘Pakistan Livestock Census, 2006, Market information 2008, Federal Bureau of Statistical and MINFAL

The objective of Planning & Evaluation Cell is to identify factors that been inclusive of smallholder’s participation in the meat sector. The study will also identify prospects and options for sustainable participation of small producers in meat food chains to improve meat production and to fulfill the consumers demand.

PROGRESS NGO (Working on Program for Growth of Empowerment and Social Services) was sanctioned by the P&E Department to carry out the survey. PROGRESS prepared a team consisting on five persons; Ms. Sumaira Kiyani, a Rural Development Consultant and Ms. Asiya Parveen, a Field Officer, Ms. Irum Fatima, a Social Worker Ms. Hina Bukhari, a Research Officer and Mr. Jamshaid Babar Economist from PROGRESS NGO2 was commissioned by the project to carry out the survey.

Sample size and filed visits:

Initially, the sampling plan was finalized and the sampling frames were developed using available resources/information. Different sample designs were used for different towns of Lahore on the basis of local conditions and type of information from butchers at their shops and consumers also. From total 9 towns of city we visited 4 of those and in one town we made a visit in at least 2 main shopping bazaar, main shopping centers in posh areas, five star and lower star hotels/restaurants and animal markets (tolinton mkt, fish mkt), main direct suppliers/dealer’s shops and 2 recognized slaughterhouses (Kot kamboh, Baghbanpura) in Lahore.

2



LAHORE CITY:

Lahore is the capital of the Punjab and is the second largest city in Pakistan after Karachi. It is popularly known as the Heart of Pakistan, due to its historical importance in the creation of Pakistan, and also being a cultural, political and educational centre of the country. It comprises on 9 difffernt towns and 150 Union councils. According to the 1998 census, Lahore's population (Combined population of Lahore City and Lahore Cantonment1) was nearly 6.3 million. Mid-2006 government estimated and put the population at approximately 8/10 million. This makes Lahore the fifth largest city in South Asia and the 23rd largest city in the world. The people of Lahore are very rich in their cultural and traditional approach and food restaurant businesses remain open all night. Lahore is very renowned of food, in order to flourish the food business the PHA in collaboration with city district Government of Lahore have established three food streets in different areas of wall city and they are further planning to make other food markets on this pattern in various areas of city.

Executive Summary:

The livestock production includes: milk, beef, mutton, poultry meat, fish meat wool, hair, bones, fats, blood, eggs, hides and skins. Livestock is an important sector of agriculture in Pakistan, which accounts for 52.2 percent of agricultural value added and contributes 11 percent of the GDP.

The role of livestock in rural economy may be realized from the fact that 30-35 million rural populations is engaged in livestock raising, having household holdings of 2-3 cattle/buffalo and 5-6 sheep/goat per family deriving 40 percent of their income from it.

It is estimated that in country 2.8 million tones of meat and 0.7 million tones of fish will be produced during 2007/082.

In Pakistan livestock population Cattle/Buffeloes 60.8 (millions no) and Sheep/goats 83.83 (millions no).

Approximate 40,000 quality animals brought every week in Lahore animal market5.

1 Lahore Cantonment is a legally separate military-administered settlement2 Source: Fedreal Bureau of Statisticals and MINFAL3 Source: Economic Survey 2007-085 Source: Market Information 2008


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Largest_cities_of_the_world

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Largest_cities_of_the_world

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karachi

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_most_populated_metropolitan_areas_in_Pakistan

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punjab_(Pakistan)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/57/Lahore_pronunciation.ogg


CHAPTER – 1 (SOURCES)

Sources:

To know the Supply Chain of each category of meat consumed in Lahore.

Red Meat (Beef/Mutton)

In Lahore Meat Supply Chain the producer has relatively more control over the supply chain because the consumer is easily accessible and 50% of them also willing to pay a high price for meat. Animals are brought every Wednesday in Lahore animal market called Bakkar Mandi (Tuesday night at bulk and supply at smaller scale continues throughout the week) from different cities like, Sahiwal, Okara, Bhakkar, Mianwali, Cholistan belt, Kasur, Gujarat etc including other provinces Sindh, NWFP and Balochistan for sale. During transportation of the animals to Lahore Animal Market they (the people who are directly evolved in Supply Chain) have to pay amount on different places, as they have to face mafia everywhere in the country.

Retailer/Wholesaler purchases animals directly from this market (Bakkar Mandi) and some of them purchases meat after slaughtering from the three main slaughterhouses of Lahore.

Supply Chain (Red Meat)

The investors buy animals both (large and small) from different villagers; investors brought the animals to Lahore Animal Market (Bakkar Mandi) through (different transportation means, no matter how long the distance is) Trucks/Mini Trucks etc. During transportation the investors have to incur many expenses i.e. truck fair, toll tax; police check posts and fee for entrance in the Mandi. (See fig-1) The details of these expenses are as under:

- Tax paid to toll tax and police check post, etc Rs. 1500-2000 per truck- Entrance fee to Mandi for small animal Rs. 20 per animal- Entrance fee to Mandi for large animal Rs. 90 per animal- Slaughterhouse fee for small animal Rs. 10 per animal- Slaughterhouse fee for large animal Rs. 20 per animal- Slaughtering fee for small animal Rs. 10 per animal- Slaughtering fee for large animal Rs. 20 per animal



There are two categories of purchasers, i) who pays the slaughtering fee to slaughterhouse. ii) who buy the animals from Mandi and export to different, cities or villages as well as countries.

Second category of purchasers is purchasing the animals on high prices as compared to first category of purchaser because they can sell or export their animals on high prices.

Fig-1

Source: Market Information 2008

Supply Chain (White Meat)


Farmers/owner of animals from village

Village mandi/investor (Arhti)

To Lahore Bakkar mandi

In Slaughterhouse

Butchers/shopkeepers/retailers

Retail stores Hotels/bakery/others

Consumers

Middleman from village

at home/mini slaughterhouses

Slaughtered animals/wholesale mkt

Beef/Mutton Supply


Fish:There is main fish market situated near Urdu Bazar, Lahore 80% of fish available in this market and rest of 20% available in Tolinton Market, Lahore. These markets suffered in out-season (Mar to Sep) because during summer season the sale and consumption of fish decreased 60-70% from the total.

In Lahore fish market there are three sources; First source of supplied fish in these markets are fish farms (situated in all over the Punjab called Agricultural/farming fish) and second source from natural sources i.e. Dams, Rivers, Ponds, Canals and ever last source is import from other cities i.e. (Karachi fish Harbour).

The last source is frozen fish imported from the other cities, and it is sold out at high prices due to these following transportation charges:____________________________

- By Air cost 23-Rs per kg.- By Rail cost 13-Rs per kg.- By Road cost 15-Rs per kg.- Specialty frozen fish meat is tasty then fresh fish meet

Fig-2



Fish farms,Dams, Rivers, Ponds, Canals

Wholesalers/Investors/Dealers Lahore fish mkts

Butchers/shopkeepers


Karachi Fish HarbourKorangi Fish HarbourPasni Fish HarbourGawader Fish Harbour

Fish Supply Chain

Consumers


There are main two poultry markets situated in Lahore 55% available in tolinton market and 30 % in Sherawala market and rest is being sold by the direct suppliers.

There are also two main sources of poultry which is being supplied daily in Lahore markets from different poultry farms in Punjab and also domestic poultry from all over the Punjab areas (villages).

Fig-3


Legal Complications:

To know the legal and illegal slaughtering in Lahore.

The country’s meat production base is highly fragmented and the private sector/private slaughterhouses (illegal slaughtering) dominate recognized slaughterhouses, with the government playing a regulatory role.

In Lahore there are 4-recognized slaughterhouses working under Punjab livestock Government around 300 mini slaughterhouses are working for slaughtering the animals in Lahore legally (registered under Provincial Government) or illegally (slaughtering in houses).


90 % Farms/Commercial10% Domestic Poultry Lahore Poultry mkts:

- Tolinton mkt- Sherawala mkt- Direct Suppliers

Butchers/shopkeepers/retailers


Consumers

Dealers/wholesalers

Chicken Supply Chain


Table: 1.6Comparison between Mandi and Slaughter house (excluding white meat) by weight

Sr. Type Animals soled

from Mandi per week*

(Kg)

Animals slaughtered

at legal houses

per week(Kg)

Total meat being soled at

Shops per week

(Kg)

Difference between

Mandi & SH per week

(Kg)

Difference between SH

& Shopsper week

(Kg)

1 Beef 607,530 228,750 425,000 378,780 (196,250)2 Mutton 480,000 259,200 240,500 220,800 18,700

Total 1,087,530 487,950 665,500 599,580 (177,550)

Week = 5 days* According to market information 2008

Price Determination:

To know price pattern and factors effecting price of beef, mutton, poultry, fish.

The large scale livestock and dairy sector and manufacturing sector has been hard hit by political instability, frequent eruptions of incidents detrimental to law and order and the acute energy shortages. In unison with increasing prices for fuel and energy and taxes all these factors have caused slower growth in this sector’s production. As the lack of awareness in farmers/butchers/others they never count their labour cost in all the practice they take on during sale and purchase of animals/meat/others.

Table: 1.7 Price Pattern

Sr. Meat Type Category ARetail rates

Category BRetail rates

Category CRetail rates

Min Max Average

Min Max Average

Min Max Average

1 Beef 150 160 155 100 120 110 85 95 90

2 Mutton 275 300 287.5 250 260 255 230 240 235

3 Chicken 100 120 110 95 100 97.5 90 95 92.5

4 Fish 160 180 170 140 160 150 80 100 90

Retail price Mutton: -



‘A’ grade: Rs 275/300 Per kg rates (after value addition) in posh area’s markets likewise, Defense markets, Zainat’s outlets, Pace, Alfatah, HKB and other shopping center.

‘B’ grade: Rs 250/260 Per kg rates at large in the butcher’s shops etc.

‘C’ grade: Rs 230/240 Per kg rates (lower/cheap) some where in the Lahore areas where illegal slaughtering of weak and diseased animals are in hands. These areas are Railway carriage workshop, northern Lahore, some areas of Wahga, Nishter towns.

Fish:

The poor show of the agriculture sector was the result of a sharp deceleration in the growth of the major livestock and agriculture -sector fishing and forestry exhibited robust growth of 3.8 percent and 11.0 percent, respectively. The same reason of country’s condition as above-mentioned is affecting and increasing price pattern in this sector1

Export of Fish:

During the period July-March 2007-08, the total marine and inland fish production was estimated to be 640,000 M. tons. Out of which share of marine fish is 390,000 M. tons and inland contribution is 250,000 M. tons. The production for the year 2006-07 was estimated to be 578,000 M. tons in which 353,000 M. tons was from marine and the remaining was 225,000 M. tons was produced by inland fishery sector. Main buyers of fish and fish preparation are JAPAN, USA, Middle East, Sri LANKA, & CHINA etc. Pakistan earned US$ 188.5million during July-March (2007-08) and over 100,000 M. tons of fish and fishery production were exported. Export, however, deprives local consumer of its due share. The desire need is to improve production so that benefits of export are not enjoyed at the cost of local consumers.

Poultry:

1 Source: Executive Summary of Economic Survey 2007/08



Average yearly wholesale rates of Live Broiler per kg (Rupees)Years Remarks

2003

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008Yearly rates

Decreased/Increased 46.00 49.00

55.00

58.00

60.00

65.00 Increased

Fig-4


Trend:

To know the meat consumption trend in Lahore

Publicity and SeasonalitySome of large dealers/shopkeepers offering best services to the customers in another way of promoting livestock products. This includes 24 hours Home delivery; provide catering services at various occasions, providing service staff etc.

Publicity is another way of promoting products effectively. Livestock products are promoted through electronic and print media, distributing brochures and displaying banners at various prominent places. Various seasonal and cultural, social and spiritual events are considered to be the best time to launch a successful and effective promotion campaign.

CHAPTER – 2 (Consumption)



Consumption:

To assess the meat consumption of Lahore. To assess the category wise meat consumption of

Lahore, beef, mutton, chicken, and fish.

Red Meat (Beef-Mutton):

In Lahore there are 4- recognized slaughterhouses working under Punjab livestock Government around 300 mini slaughterhouses are working for slaughtering the animals legally (registered under provincial Government) or illegally (slaughtering in houses) in Lahore. We visited them and got the following information:

Daily slaughtering in these recognized slaughterhouses: Sr. Slaughterhouses Beef Mutton Total

1 Kot kamboh 425 6000 6425

2 Baghbanpura 30 150 1803 Shahdra 60 150 210

4 Saddar (Cantonment area) 120 250 370

Total= 635 6550 7185


Comparison of census of slaughtered animals in recognized slaughterhouses of Lahore 1996 versus 2006.

Type of Animals 1996 2006

Large animals 89,957 63,753

Small animals 1,427,067 1,300,216Grand Total 1,517,024 1,363,969

% Decrease 10.2 %Source: Market Information 2008

A modern slaughterhouse had been a longstanding demand of the meat exporters since October 2001. The relevant have suffered due to lack of a modern meat processing plants in Lahore. It was told by the different relevant people that the condition of slaughterhouses was bad. They were small and most were located in congested areas, more adding that they were unhygienic, old-fashioned and had insufficient transportation facilities. Now Shahpur kanjna place had been approved by the Punjab Government for construction of new largest slaughterhouse for Lahore



city. Its area is around 717 acres it will have a new slaughtering capacity of 9,000 small and 7,000 large animals. Table 1.1 documents that the City-District of Lahore comprises nine administrative towns, one separate military cantonment and 150 union councils. Average population town wise around 8,000,000. in Lahore main city there are 6000 red meat shops and around 4000 shops of chicken and 250 shops (including all high class/low class restaurants) of fish.

Table: 1.1 Category-wise number of shops

Sr. Meat Type Total Population

(2008) (aprox.)

Total Towns in Lahore

Total shops in

each Town (Average)

Total Shops

in Lahore(Average)

1 Beef /Mutton 8,000,000 9 667 6,0003 Chicken 422 3,8004 Fish 28 250

Total 8,000,000 1,117 10,050

In Punjab main animal market/mandi put on show every Wednesday in Lahore bakkar mandi for small animals and shahpur kanjna is for large animals; what's more farmers took their animals through out the week. Average 35,000 small animals/4500 large animals brought in Lahore animal mandi on weekly basis and slaughtered daily 55 % in recognized slaughterhouses 45 % illegal slaughtering in unrecognized slaughterhouses (mini slaughterhouses / slaughtering at homes).

Table 1.2 documents that the performa was filled (comprised on different type of questions) related to consumption and sale purchase of meat from butchers and retailer’s shops situated in the different general public markets in 4-towns of Lahore city.

Table: 1.2Category-wise consumption of meat per shop/ day

S.No. Meat Type Total shops in each Town (Average)

Total Shops in Lahore(Average)

Sale of meat/ Shop/ day (Average) (Kg)

1 Beef/Mutton 367 6000 B-50M-37

2 Chicken 422 3800 953 Fish 28 250 27

Total 1117 10050 209

Table 1.3 documents that more than 632,650kg of meat is consumed in Lahore city every day half of which is of poultry and fish, average 6000



goats or sheep and 600 buffaloes or cows are slaughtered every day in the recognized slaughterhouses to supply 60,000kg of mutton and 45,000kg of Beef daily.

Table: 1.3Overall category wise consumption of meat in Lahore (per day)

Sr. Meat Type Total Shops (Average)

Total Sale of meat (Kg)

1 Beef 3300 165,0002 Mutton 2700 99,9003 Chicken 3800 361,0004 Fish 250 6,750

Total 10050 632,650

Table: 1.4Population-wise distribution of meat at Lahore by category

Sr. Meat Type Total Sale of meat (Kg)

Total population(Meat eater

only)

Distribution per day/person

(Kg)

2 Beef 165,000 7,040,000 0.0233 Mutton 99,900 0.0144 Chicken 361,000 0.051

Fish 6,750 0.001Total 632,650 7,040,000 0.090

Less: 12.57% below 5 years children of total populationThis includes meat-less days

White Meat

Poultry is the category of domesticated birds kept for meat, eggs, and feathers. Poultry production has emerged as a good substitute of beef and mutton. Its importance can be judged from the fact that almost every family in rural areas are associated with poultry production activities in one way or the other.

Science and technology have made for great expansion of the poultry industry in recent years. Most nutrition programs can be improved by the inclusion of poultry meat. Poultry products are of the highest nutritional quality.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feathers

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egg_(food)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meat

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birds

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domesticated


Production of chicken meat in Pakistan according to census 2003 chicken meat obtained 370,000.00 (metric tons)

The Lahori people are consuming average 361,000 kilograms chicken meat every day.

Fisheries

Fishery plays an important role in Pakistan's economy and is considered to be an important source of livelihood for the coastal inhabitants. Apart from marine fisheries, inland fisheries (comprising of rivers, lakes, ponds, dams etc) are also very important source of animal protein. Fisheries share in GDP, though very little contributes substantially to the national income through export earnings. During the period July- March 2002-03, 58356 m. tones valued at Rs. 5.2 billion fish and fishery products were estimated to be exported to Japan, USA, UK, Germany, Middle East, Sri Lanka, China etc.

During the year 2007/08, the total fish production is estimated at 665,850 m. tones. There are three types of fisheries Sweet Water fish is called ‘Natural and ‘Farming fish (agricultural), Salt Water fish is called Sea fish and Import fish in Pakistan.

Main source of Lahore fish market is karchi fish harbour. Karachi Fish Harbour handles about 90% of the fish and seafood catch in Pakistan and 95% of fish and seafood exports from Pakistan. Many other large sources of fhisheries are:

- Korangi fihharbour- Pasni fishharbour- Gawader fishharbour

This is best fish medically it is anti cholesterol fish best for health.These are all fishes being export from Pakistan and also from Lahore.



CHAPTER – 3 (Marketing channels)

Marketing channels:

To know the meat marketing system i-e, cattle market, fish market, poultry market in Lahore

To know the meat sales system/shop etc in Lahore

The red meat markets system in Lahore can be classified into four categories, namely:

- Big shopkeeper (only 5 %) They purchase animals from other animal markets out side Lahore directly and then displayed at their shops after slaughtering.

- Cattle market (only 30%) They purchase animals directly from Lahore Local animal market slaughter them (legally/illegally) and than displayed at their shops.

- Wholesaler (only 55%) They purchase slaughtered animals from slaughterhouses on wholesale rates and than displayed at their shops they also called dealers/supplier.

- Dealer/suppliers (only 10%)They purchase meat from SHs and wholesalers to supply it on order basis to hotels/restaurants and others.

The white meat markets system in Lahore can be classified into four categories, namely:

- Owner of farms (only 5%) They are running their farms (outside lhr) and also have sale points in city.

- Wholesalers (only 45%) They have proper supply chain markets in Lahore (Tolinton and other markets). Having contract/dealing with different poultry/fish farms (Karachi Fish Harbour and others).

- Retailer (only 40 %) They purchase white meat i) poultry

markets (tolinton, Sherawala) and ii) fish



market than sale it on supply rates as pr contract/deal.

- Dealers/suppliers (only 10%) They purchase poultry/fish from markets and supply it to hotels, restaurants and others as per contract.

A significant proportion of the meat produced in rural areas is consumed at source within the hamlet or village, either through homestead consumption or in some cases, direct sales of live animals by the farmer to Lahore animal market. The remaining 30-40% is marketed through an intricate marketing chain consisting of multiple layers of intermediaries. An estimated 632,650 kg of meat every day consumed by the consumers in Lahore. This meat is not sufficient to meet the entire city demand the deficit is met by the local meat exporters.

Marketing chains in Lahore:All stakeholders involve i.e. animal mandi, wholesaler, retailer/shopkeeper, hotels/restaurants, stores, sopping malls. An overview of renowned sale points/shopping mall in Lahore city is given below:i) Pace ii) Zainat iii) HKB iv) Jalal Sons v) Family Martvi) Alfatah vii) Alfazal viii) Pioneer Store and many others.

Famous/renowned meat marketing/

sale points

Hotels/Centers

Mutton

KgBeefKg

FishKg

Chicken kg Total

Sale/Consum

e % Source

Avari 130 80 60 160 430 80% Direct suppliersPardesi Restaurant Food Street 40 25 40 80 185 85% Tolinton market

Pace shopping mall

80 60 50 90 280 80%

Purchase animals and slaughter them from designated SHs

MAKRO 300 200 60 500 1060 85% Dealers/Suppliers

METRO Cash&Carry 8000 500 300 800 2400 90%

Purchase animals and slaughter them from designated SHs




FINDINGS:

o Due to the insufficient logistical facilities in the urban areas As most of animal farms are located in the remote areas / villages, and when farmers/investor (arhti) brought their animals to Lahore animal market for sale purpose they have to pay several government liabilities like toll taxes, Chungi and police check posts etc. Due to these factors meat’s prices getting higher day by day.

o Publicity is another way of promoting products effectively.

Livestock products are promoted through electronic and print media, distributing brochures and displaying banners at various prominent places. Various seasonal and cultural, social and spiritual events are considered to be the best time to launch a successful and effective promotion campaign.

o Due to lack of proper management practices and unawareness at farmer level animal’s production tends to be very low.

o With the every passing day, livestock products are becoming costlier because live stock farming has not scientifically grown with the increase in population and also it did not match with the space of urbanization.

o As we discussed above that Lahore is comprised on 9 towns and have 150 union councils with the total population around 10 million. When we calculated UC wise population we found that there are 2/3 towns are area wise largest i.e. Wahga Town, Aziz Bhatti Town and some of others are population wise congested i.e. Ravi Town, Ganj Bakhsh Town, Samanabad Town, Shalimar Town and Iqbal Town areas and due to this reason meat consumption’s average is high in Overcrowded Towns, and illegal slaughtering is also on peak in area wise largest towns.

o An un-sustained growth pattern is not able to save the economy from political and economic shocks, rescued by the services sector, because of the rising oil and food prices, continued political uncertainty and law and order problems in country.

o A reason to increasing prices high from last few years that there was a time when animals used to be imported or smuggled from Afghanistan in to Pakistan but after 9/11 the



situation suddenly took a ‘U’ turn. In Afghanistan, the war has seriously affected the Livestock sector. Thus Pakistan started exporting instead of importing livestock from Afghanistan.

o Moreover, in the interest of enhanced profitability, a thorough legal review is needed to examine the impact of laws that allow the government to regulate the price of meat. The local government is authorized to fix retail prices of meat under the preamble of protecting public interest by controlling the supply, distribution, movement of, and trade and commerce in essential foodstuffs, including meat. The two major laws governing the price control are i) The Balochistan/NWFP/Punjab/Sindh Foodstuff (Control) Act – 1958, and ii) The Price Control and Prevention of Profiteering and Hoarding Act, 1977. Conversely, the prices of meat production inputs such as feed, live animals, and veterinary care are uncontrolled and escalating with the growing inflation.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

o In such a situation, the only way to control prices is to develop the meat industry on scientific lines, which will not only provide meat in abundant qualities to the domestic consumers but extra quantities can also be exported.

o Moreover, If Pakistan wants to continue meat and live animals export, and meeting domestic demand, modern fattening units, modern slaughterhouses, control over illegal slaughtering in the city, awareness raising campaigns for grazing at farmer level, proper livestock farms should be set up all over the country.

o To ensure the development of meat sector, it is important that critical support is provided for the promotion of smallholder producers. Key issues for promoting smallholder based meat development would be to organize farmers, integrate production with marketing, enhance access to credit, upgrade meat marketing chains through adoption of modern technology, enhance market information, and improve animal’s farm profitability.
