950807

Importers swallow

all profits from

cheaper meat

RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: The landed cost of the imported meat from Australia is around Rs.55 per kg, nearly half of the mutton price in Pakistan. However, the benefit of the meat import allowed by the government, is being wholly swallowed by the importers, instead of passing it to the consumers.

The current price of mutton in Pakistan is around Rs.100 per kg, beef costs Rs.60 per kg, and live poultry birds Rs.54 per kg.

The purpose behind the permission for import of sheep meat from Australia was, of course, to beat the price-hike of different meats in Pakistan. But, it is still beyond the reach of the common man for certain reasons.

So far only five or six parties, mostly five-star hotels and large catering concerns, are importing the meat for their own consumptions. The bills of the hotels and catering suppliers, however do not indicate any decline in their charges.

Since the meat arrives in a frozen condition in containers and is transferred to another container of cold storage type, it cannot be put for sale as butchers do traditionally here.

The Utility Stores, spread all over the country, could be used, a consumer suggested, for the sale of imported meat to the general public in one kg to five-kg packs can be stored in the deep freezers.