Dairy farmers in Karachi have demanded a Rs60 per litre increase in milk prices, warning that they could independently raise the retail price to Rs300 per litre if the government and local administration fail to issue an official notification.
Follow Times of Karachi on Google News and add as a preferred Source on Google
According to local media reports, dairy farmers say continuing to sell milk at the existing rate has become financially difficult because of rising production and operating costs.
Shabbir Dar, a spokesperson for the dairy farmers, said the association wanted the government to formally approve the proposed increase.
He warned that if the authorities failed to issue a new price notification, farmers would have no option but to fix the retail price at Rs300 per litre themselves.
Dar criticised the Commissioner of Karachi, alleging that instead of holding a formal meeting to resolve the issue, the administration had continued delaying the matter.
He said dairy farmers had held several meetings and submitted repeated appeals, but the administration had yet to issue a revised milk price notification.
Dar said the recent increase in petrol and diesel prices had significantly raised the cost of dairy farming.
According to the farmers’ representative, higher fuel prices have increased expenses related to cattle feed, transportation and other operational requirements.
“Cattle feed that was previously available for Rs800 now costs Rs1,700,” Dar said.
He added that the cost of veterinary medicines, electricity, labour and water had also increased, further putting pressure on dairy farmers.
The dairy farmers’ association has urged the authorities to review the milk price based on current production costs.
Dar warned that failure to determine what the association considers an appropriate price could affect milk supplies across Karachi.
The proposed increase remains a demand from the dairy farmers, while any official retail price change would require action by the relevant authorities.
