KARACHI: A 9-member committee to determine retail and wholesale rates of fresh milk in Karachi has been constituted after an inconclusive meeting between city administration and dairy sector stakeholders on this matter. A letter in this effect has been issued from Commissioner Office while first meeting of dairy representatives with Deputy Commissioner (DC) Malir as Committee’s head has discussed pros and cons of the issues in question, members of diary farm sector informed. Muhammad Ali Shah, DC Malir while assuring the meeting said that a notification would be issued soon after an acceptable rates’ structure. The parties deliberated their views for an amicable resolution of the issue during the meeting. Diary farmers and fresh milk vendors also highlighted their respective hardships in doing business and the need for a rational increase in retail and wholesale rates of fresh milk. Wholesalers informed the meeting that last increase in rates took place in March 2012, and retail price of commodity had been fixed in March 2016. During this period, prices of fodder, transportation expenses, tax structure and city tax levies on business has become manifold, wholesaler asserted. The owners of milk farm animals were of the view that during last seven years, no any fresh steps had been taken from livestock and veterinary departments for the development of our trade. No underpin measures have been taken for timely vaccinating of farm animals besides provisions of medicines, they claimed. Fixation of wholesalers’ commission rates by city administration had also been dormant during this period, they lamented. On the other hand, the representatives of fresh milk retailers were of the view that they would sell the commodity on rational rates subject to the condition if supplies from wholesalers would remain within their cost level. Any hike in the price of milk on part of wholesalers disturbs our business as we are bound to sell commodity to consumers without any additional rates, retailers asserted. A consumers’ rights participant in the meeting alleged, “Around 13 assistant commissioners in city are involved in illegal gratification from wholesalers”. Ali Haider, Assistant Director of Bureau and Supply and Price Sindh told the meeting that on determination of prices for consumers’ items, Bureau has been always played a positive role in order to safeguard the interests of consumers as well as the manufacturers and suppliers of various food commodities. He also presented the comparative prices of fresh milk being sold in different cities of Sindh including Karachi. Dr Adil Yaqoob, Veterinary Officer of Livestock Sindh informed the meeting about the demand and supply of farm animals and their remedial treatment during ailment. The meeting has decided for holding day-to-day sitting until they reach on amicable solution of the issue. Earlier, Commissioner Karachi chaired a meeting on March 27, 2017 for determining and fixation of fresh milk prices on retail and wholesale level with representatives of diary sector. Members of Dairy Farmers Association Karachi, Dairy and Cattle Farmers Association Karachi, Fresh Milk Wholesaler Association and All Karachi Middlemen Fresh Milk Welfare Association, Commissioner Office officials besides officials of Bureau of Supplies and Prices and Livestock, Sindh expressed their hope that a workable solution would be achieved in the best interest of the consumers and parties.