ISLAMABAD: Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, Minister of Finance, has advised the authorities concerned to include increasing prices of eggs, wheat flour and tomatoes in order to help end consumers.
Chairing the National Price Management Committee (NPMC) meeting, Hafeez ordered that all possible steps should be taken to reduce the prices of these important products.
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The Minister for Factories & Development, Hammad Azhar, told the meeting that the prices of sugar and edible oil were closely controlled to ensure an uninterrupted supply at fair prices.
On the existing state of wheat and sugar stocks, the Minister revised the NPMC. The increased availability has maintained a consistent supply in the nation of both goods.
Provinces asked to check hoarding, black marketing of essentials
The status of the wheat stock is acceptable for domestic use and the average release to the provinces per day is also satisfactory.
In order to prevent hoarding, black marketing and smuggling, Hafeez also directed the provincial governments to keep close eye on the prices of wheat on the market to ensure an uninterrupted supply of the product at reasonable prices.
In order to provide maximum relief to the general public, the finance minister stressed improved cooperation among all government functionaries for efficient tracking of the prices of critical goods.
The market pattern of basic commodities was checked by the NPMC. The finance ministry told the committee that the weekly Responsive Price Index had risen by 0.11pc in nominal terms. The prices of 10 basic goods decreased, especially onions, potatoes and chicken, while the prices of eggs, wheat flour and tomatoes increased marginally over the week ended December 24.
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The meeting was attended by the Minister for Factories & Production, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Revenue, Regional Chief Secretaries, Secretary for Growth Planning & Special Initiatives, Secretary for Industries & Production, FBR Chairman, MNFS&R Additional Secretary, Commerce Joint Secretary, CCP Chairman, TCP Chairman, MD Passco, MD Service Store Corporation, PBS Member and Senior Senior Secretary.
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