Poultry industry grows at consumers’ cost

• Prices stay high despite export disruptions
• Beef hits Rs1,500-1,800 per kg, mutton Rs2,700-2,900

KARACHI: Amid disease outbreaks, export suspensions, volatile market conditions and rising feed and production costs, the poultry sector has continued to grow by eight per cent annually over the past 10 years.

Higher prices for poultry might cause a slowdown in the purchasing patterns of low- and middle-income people, but they still rely on poultry as it costs much less than beef and mutton.

As per the Economic Survey FY25, rural poultry had shown modest gains, but commercial production remained the main growth driver.

After remaining on the higher side, poultry live bird prices have fallen by an average Rs100 per kg to Rs370-420 per kg in Karachi after Eidul Azha.

Consumers were expecting a further price drop in the wake of the closure of borders with Afghanistan, but the prices of poultry continued to show an upward trend.

In October 2025, when the Afghan border was closed, the live-bird price had fallen to Rs310-360 per kg, down from Rs460-540 in September.

However, according to traders, the export of poultry products such as birds, feed, day-old chicks and eggs remains suspended, but consumers have not seen any significant price falls.

Prior to and after Eidul Azha, the demand for poultry usually declines as consumers shift towards meat from sacrificial animals, but this year traders kept chicken prices higher due to robust demand ahead of Eid.

According to the weekly Sensitive Price Index (SPI) data for the period ending June 4, the prices of live birds in various cities across the country remained unchanged at Rs288-460 per kg.

Consumers have seen the price of an egg drop to Rs20-22 from Rs25, as demand is thin due to school closures and hot weather.

The Commissioner of Karachi had issued retail rates for live birds and meat at Rs296 and Rs445 per kg, respectively, but these rates are not available in shops.

Member of the Executive Committee of the Pakistan Poultry Association (PPA), Kamal Akhtar Siddiqui, said the farm rate for live birds had plunged by Rs100 to Rs290-300 per kg after Eid, while the meat rate should not exceed Rs500 per kg, but retailers are charging over Rs500 per kg.

He said chicken remains affordable despite the impact of the Afghan border closure and the Middle East crisis, which also led to the suspension of poultry product shipments to Iran.

Veal meat with and without bones is available at Rs1,500 and Rs1,800 per kg, while mutton is priced at Rs2,700-2,900 per kg, which is beyond the reach of many people. Compared with red meat, chicken is still affordable for many low- and middle-income people, he said.

Mr Akhtar said that demand for chicken has currently dropped after Eidul Azha, as consumers’ freezers are packed with Qurbani meat. Demand will pick up when sacrificial animal meat is fully consumed.

No price respite

Irrespective of the rise and fall in rates due to the demand and supply situation, consumers have not seen any respite in the prices of chicken tikka and broast, seekh kabab, boneless boti, and Chinese dishes.

The average price of half kg chicken karahi is Rs1,200 while the average price of quarter broast (chest piece) is tagged at Rs500. At branded outlets, the price of quarter broast is over Rs600.

There is no change in the price of chicken biryani, selling between Rs250-320 (single plate). Average price of chicken tikka (leg and chest piece) is available at Rs360-400 but some big food outlets charge Rs500-600 per tikka. A zinger burger costs not less than Rs500. Mighty zinger and chicken burgers offered by branded outlets carry a price of Rs600-800.

As per Economic Survey FY25, the average annual growth rate of poultry sector is 8.1pc over past 10 years. The survey said the total poultry bird population was projected to reach 2.26 billion, driven primarily by commercial broiler expansion, estimated at 2.06bn birds. Similarly, day-old chick production was expected to rise by 9.8pc to 2.19bn, indicating robust forward integration in the breeding and hatchery segments.

Poultry meat production was forecast to grow to 2.58 million tonnes, up by 9.4pc Egg production was also expected to reach 26.7bn, reflecting improvements in layer performance and flock management.

Poultry meat accounts for over 40pc of Pakistan’s total meat production. The industry, being the 11th largest producer in the world, employs over 1.5m nationwide.

Published in Dawn, June 7th, 2026