A new pricing mechanism intended to regulate poultry prices has proven largely ineffective, with significant price disparities persisting throughout the city’s markets.

Under the current system, district administration only regulates live poultry prices while allowing retailers to set their own rates for processed chicken meat. This week, despite authorities reducing the official price of live chicken by Rs3 per kilogram to between Rs354 and Rs368, consumers found little relief as live birds were scarcely available in markets.

Instead, retailers sold chicken meat at Rs500-650 per kilogram, with boneless cuts commanding Rs850-950 across different neighborhoods. The price manipulation extends beyond poultry, with beef selling at Rs1,400 per kilogram and mutton at Rs2,600—far exceeding official rates of Rs800 and Rs1,600 respectively.

Vegetables and fruits show even more dramatic price disparities. A-grade potatoes, officially priced at Rs45-50 per kilogram, retail for Rs80-100. Onions, with an official rate of Rs35-40, cost up to Rs100 in markets. Tomatoes have tripled from their official Rs35-40 rate to Rs120.

Imported items face steeper markups, with Chinese garlic selling at Rs500 despite an official ceiling of Rs345, while Thai and Chinese ginger varieties reach Rs600 against the official Rs400-420 rate.

Fruit markets display similar trends, with apples selling at up to Rs800 per kilogram (official rate: Rs210-360), premium bananas at Rs350-400 per dozen (official rate: Rs215-240), and guavas at Rs250 per kilogram (official rate: Rs115-160).