KARACHI: Dairy and Cattle Farmers Association has submitted a proposal to Commissioner Karachi for an increase in wholesale price of fresh milk due to cost escalation in production. The high cost of milk production is resulting in less supply to retail outlets in Karachi which has also been a major factor for its detouring quality involving non-professional milk suppliers. Shakir Umer, President of the Association has said they demand an increase in wholesale price of the milk to Rs 95.50 from Rs 75.50 would is necessary to save the sector from economic collapse, involving 6,000 units in Bhains Colony and more than 4,000 units in Surjani Town cattle farms with overall volume of 500,000 livestock. Explaining the breakup of milk production, he informed that cost of a lactating buffalo is around Rs 150,000 on average, which produces 8-10 liter milk a day on average and its lactation is dried out after 270 days’ lactation. The dry livestock is latter sold out at around Rs 75,000. The sector bears health and vaccination tax of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation and District Municipal Corporation of Rs 1.48 a day for an animal and the mortality rate stands about 2.5 percent per annum. The fresh milk retailers have informed that in open market auction they were compelled to buy milk at Rs 115 per liter. Meanwhile Commissioner Office has confirmed receiving the proposal in question and Office has forwarded the fresh milk farm owners’ proposal to Farhan Ghani, Additional Commissioner I for review and submission of final report on the matter. Heading a Price Control and Review Committee by Additional Commissioner with three members including deputy commissioners district East, Malir and South, a meeting would be convened soon on this matter. Commenting on the matter, members of the civil society and Shakeel Baig of Consumers’ Rights counsel were of the opinion that consumers are being supplied with powder added produce as the retailers who are buying milk from the open market have to bear the cost of the auction. Published in Daily Times, August 3nd 2017.