RAWALPINDI: Prices of chicken and eggs have skyrocketed in Rawalpindi amid the Punjab government`s lax oversight.

According to sources, the provincial government has apparently given dealers the liberty to decide the prices on their own.

The price of a kilogram ofwholesale live chicken is Rs412 and chicken meat is Rs597, as per the official list.

However, live chicken is being sold at Rs540 per kg while chicken meat is available at Rs740 per kg.

The poultry association representatives are of the view that there are issues of supply and demand and the prices have increased in Ramazan.

However, the residents of the garrison city expressed theirresentment over the prices stating that it was a failure of the government.

Shopkeepers said that the demand for the commodities has increased due to Ramazan and low the production rate.

They said until last month, the prices of chicken were lower but with the onset of the current month, people turned to chicken and the demand increased.

On the other hand, the citizens were of the view that meatprices were already high and after the hike in chicken prices, they had no option but to stop purchasing the commodities.

`Mutton is available at Rs2,500 per kg and beef at Rs1,600 per kg. The prices of chicken increased after the last budget,` said Sadagat Ali, a resident of Arya Mohallah.

`We have to pay Rs1,100 for just two kgs of chicken and it is a higher price but there is noregulation,` said Nasir Hussain, a shopper at Raja Bazaar.

He said that the price hike has badly affected the citizens already reeling under high inflation.

Mohammad Riaz, a resident of Gulraiz said that his salary was the same for years but inflation continued to skyrocket.

`It is very difficult to pay utility bills, school fees and other expenses with my current salary,` he said.