Dairy farmers in Karachi have issued an urgent demand for a Rs60 per litre increase in retail milk prices, citing unsustainable operating expenses and severe cost inflation across the supply chain.
Speaking on behalf of the dairy farmers’ association, spokesperson Shabbir Dar warned that if the government and local administration fail to officially notify a revised price, farmers will take independent action to fix the retail rate at Rs300 per litre.
🚨 Key Highlights & Cost Pressures
- Official Inaction Criticized: Shabbir Dar expressed strong frustration over the Commissioner of Karachi’s failure to convene formal negotiations, accusing the administration of delaying necessary decisions with empty promises despite repeated appeals.
- Feed Costs Surging: A key driver behind the demand is the price of cattle feed, which has more than doubled from Rs800 to Rs1,700 per bag due to recent fuel price increases.
- Widespread Operational Inflation: In addition to feed, farmers face steep rises in:
- Petrol & diesel fares (impacting raw milk transportation)
- Veterinary medicines
- Electricity tariffs
- Farm labor & water supply costs
⚠️ Supply Risk Warning
Dairy farmers warned that operating under the current price structure is no longer financially viable for producers. Without a timely, official price adjustment reflective of ground-level production realities, the city risks widespread disruptions to its daily fresh milk supply.
