Karachi faces possible milk shortage crisis

Dairy and Cattle Farmers Association has warned that Karachi could face an acute shortage of fresh milk in the coming days if authorities do not approve an immediate increase of Rs100 per litre in retail milk prices.

In a formal letter addressed to the Karachi commissioner, the association said dairy farmers were struggling to continue production due to a sharp rise in operational costs over the past two years. The group warned that without urgent government intervention, many farmers may halt production, potentially disrupting milk supplies across the city.

DCFA President Musharraf Qureshi Moavi stated that the prices of animal feed, bran, oil cake, silage and other essential inputs had increased by 60 to 75 per cent. He added that fuel, electricity, transportation, storage, veterinary medicines and labour costs had also risen significantly, making milk production financially unsustainable for farmers.

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The association demanded that authorities call a meeting of all stakeholders within 48 hours to discuss the issue and announce a revised milk price. According to DCFA representatives, the actual production cost of fresh milk has reached nearly Rs300 per litre, while the officially notified retail price currently stands at Rs240 per litre following a Rs20 increase approved in April.

Farmers have warned that if the government does not revise prices, they may increase rates independently from June onward.

Meanwhile, consumers across Karachi have also expressed concerns over the deteriorating quality of loose milk available in markets. Several residents complained that milk now appears watery, spoils quickly and has an unusual smell, forcing some families to switch to powdered or packaged milk despite higher costs.

Government officials acknowledged rising production expenses but said a further increase in milk prices was not currently under consideration due to inflationary pressure on consumers.