ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Shaukat Tarin has expressed concerns on the rise of sugar prices and directed the provincial authorities to take appropriate measures to control the trend.
Presiding over a meeting of the National Price Monitoring Committee (NPMC) on Wednesday, the finance minister underscored the efforts being made for keeping the prices of essential items in check and measures to ensure smooth supply of essential commodities throughout the country.
The NPMC was briefed on the sugar prices in the country and was informed that prices have shown slight increases in Rawalpindi, Karachi and Peshawar. The meeting was apprised that the new stocks of sugar arriving in the market will ease out sugar prices.
The secretary for national food security & research apprised the meeting that increase in prices of chicken and eggs is due to seasonal factor. The NPMC also discussed milk prices in the country and was informed that prices are normal across the country.
The finance minister directed the food ministry to work out a suitable plan for optimal level of milk prices in order to ensure its smooth and sustainable supply in the market.
The NPMC was briefed on the availability of essential goods at subsidised rates at the Sastaa and Sahulat Bazaars across the country. Tarin commended the efforts of the governments of the Punjab and KP and Islamabad administration in providing key items at discounted prices through arranging Sastaa bazaars and also expressed satisfaction on the availability of essential items at low rates in Sastaa Bazaars in Sindh and Balochistan.
The economic adviser of the Finance Division briefed the NPMC about weekly SPI which increased by 0.40 percent as compared to previous week which was 0.55 percent. The NPMC was updated on the prices of wheat flour which marked a further decrease in the prices in the country. The meeting expressed satisfaction over the availability of sufficient stocks of wheat in the country.
The meeting also discussed the sowing situation of wheat in the country and was informed that sowing of wheat is satisfactory in Sindh and Punjab provinces whereas sowing of wheat in Balochistan and KP provinces was affected due to the draught situation but now it is in progress and wheat sowing targets will be completed.
The meeting was attended by Minister for National Food Security & Research Syed Fakhar Imam, Minister of State for Information Farrukh Habib, provincial chief secretaries, chief statistician Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, managing director Utility Stores Corporation, deputy commissioner Islamabad and other senior officers participated in the meeting. – TLTP