Minister wants strict check on food prices

Published November 3, 2023
Planning and Development Minister Sami Saeed chairs the meeting of the National Price Monitoring Comm­ittee on Nov 2. — Radio Pakistan
Planning and Development Minister Sami Saeed chairs the meeting of the National Price Monitoring Comm­ittee on Nov 2. — Radio Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Planning and Development Minister Muhammad Sami Saeed on Thursday expressed satisfaction with the price stabilisation of essential commodities.

Chairing the meeting of the National Price Monitoring Comm­ittee (NPMC), he directed the departments concerned to keep a vigilant eye on food prices to provide relief to the common man.

An official announcement said PBS officials shared price and inflation data with the participants.

The representatives from Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and Balochistan apprised the forum on the current production and supply of wheat, sugar and other essential commodities which, according to them, remained satisfactory.

The minister emphasised zero-tolerance against hoarders and profiteers, directing the provincial governments to engage their respective commissioners, deputy commissioners and magistrates to check malpractices.

The meeting also highlighted the importance of minimising the price differential between wholesale and retail prices of essential items to maximise relief for the common man.

The meeting noted the deceleration of CPI inflation by 450 basis points in October.

However, the minister also emphasised stakeholders to take corrective measures to keep inflation under check.

The meeting was attended by the Secretary Planning Ministry, Awais Manzur Sumra, chief statistician of the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), chief economist of Pakistan, representatives from all provinces, the Federal Board of Revenue, Ministry of Food Security and Industries and others relevant stakeholders.

Published in Dawn, November 3rd, 2023

Follow Dawn Business on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook for insights on business, finance and tech from Pakistan and across the world.

Opinion

Editorial

Counterterrorism plan
Updated 23 Nov, 2024

Counterterrorism plan

Lacunae in our counterterrorism efforts need to be plugged quickly.
Bullish stock market
23 Nov, 2024

Bullish stock market

NORMALLY, stock markets rise gradually. In recent months, however, Pakistan’s stock market has soared to one ...
Political misstep
23 Nov, 2024

Political misstep

FORMER first lady Bushra Bibi’s video address to PTI followers has triggered a firestorm. Her assertion implying...
Kurram atrocity
Updated 22 Nov, 2024

Kurram atrocity

It would be a monumental mistake for the state to continue ignoring the violence in Kurram.
Persistent grip
22 Nov, 2024

Persistent grip

An audit of polio funds at federal and provincial levels is sorely needed, with obstacles hindering eradication efforts targeted.
Green transport
22 Nov, 2024

Green transport

THE government has taken a commendable step by announcing a New Energy Vehicle policy aiming to ensure that by 2030,...