Karachi dairy farmers seek Rs60 per litre hike in milk price

KARACHI: Dairy farmers have demanded an increase of Rs60 per litre in the price of milk, raising concerns that milk prices in Karachi could increase significantly.

The dairy farmers have urged the Karachi commissioner to immediately issue a notification revising the official milk price.

They warned that if the notification is not issued, they would set the price of milk at Rs300 per litre themselves, according to dairy farmers’ representative Shabbir Dar.

A spokesperson for the dairy farmers said that rising operational costs had made it increasingly difficult for farmers to continue their businesses under the prevailing economic conditions.

The farmers claimed that the Karachi commissioner had repeatedly postponed meetings with them by assigning new dates instead of addressing their demands.

They said that despite submitting multiple applications and holding several meetings, no notification regarding the revision of milk prices had been issued.

Shabbir Dar said that increases in petrol and diesel prices had pushed up the cost of animal feed, transportation and other operational expenses. He claimed that the price of straw, which previously cost around Rs800, had increased to approximately Rs1,700.

The dairy farmers also cited increases in the cost of animal feed, medicines, electricity, labour and water.

They demanded that the price of milk be determined according to the actual cost of production faced by dairy farmers.

The farmers warned that if an appropriate milk price was not determined, milk supplies in Karachi could be affected.