LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Friday issued notices to the Punjab chief secretary and different departments on a petition challenging the increase in chicken prices during the fasting month of Ramazan.

Justice Farooq Haider heard the petition filed by the Punjab Poultry Traders’ Association (PPTA) through its President Tariq Javed.

Advocate Azhar Siddique argued on behalf of the petitioner that as soon as the month of Ramazan began, the prices of chicken surged and the government failed to control it.

He stated that the price hike caused distress among people, making it difficult for them to afford chicken.

He pointed out that before and during Ramazan of 2024, the respondents held a number of meetings with the poultry stakeholders and desired that chicken meat be supplied at a moderate rate during the fasting month.

He said the government and the stakeholders had agreed that after the 27thof Ramazan, the previous practice in consonance with the formula submitted in the court would be restored, and that resulted in a Rs25 per kilogram decrease in the chicken price in the province.

However, the counsel argued that since Ramazan had begun, the previous pricing system could not be restored.

Instead, he said, the government officials were setting chicken meat prices on their own, without consulting poultry stakeholders or following the formula submitted to the court, and also accused the respondents of taking coercive measures against the traders by getting FIRs registered against them.

Advocate Siddique asked the court to declare that the government unlawfully included chicken meat in the schedule of the Punjab Price Control of Essential Commodities Act 2024, which, according to him, led to an increase in the prices.

He asked the court to restrain the respondents from interfering in the price mechanism previously agreed upon by the stakeholders.

The judge adjourned the hearing for two weeks and sought replies from the respondents.

Published in Dawn, March 15th, 2025