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Govt fully cognizant to provide essential items at affordable prices: Tarin
June 21, 2021

Finance Minister Shaukat Fayaz Ahmed Tarin has said that Government is fully cognizant of its responsibility regarding provision of essential items at affordable prices across the board.

Presiding over the meeting of a National Price Monitoring Committee in Islamabad today (Monday), the Finance minister said that Pakistan is a net importer of food and the Government has taken all out measures to provide essential items through a network of Sahulat/SaastaBaazars, hefty subsidies through chain of Utility Stores outlets under Ramadan Package and is taking strict administrative measures to keep prices of basic items in check.

Secretary Finance briefed the meeting and informed that the weekly SPI increased by 0.28 percent for the week ended on 17th June, 2021 after a three weeks consecutive decline.

Prices of 09 items declined, 21 items slightly increased and 21 items remained stable. He apprised the movement of essential items during last six weeks as well as price comparison among the provinces and ICT. The Chair noted that prices in ICT are declining in most of the items and appreciated the efforts of ICT administration.

The Finance minister directed the provincial governments to also mobilise their teams in order to provide relief to common man by strict monitoring of prices.

The Chair highlighted the issue with Ministry of Industries and  Production regarding prices of palm oil and soyabean are on declining trend in the international market but its impact on the domestic market so far has not been observed.

The Chair directed Ministry of Industries and Production to hold a meeting with ghee/edible oil manufacturers in order to transmit the declining trend of international oil prices to the local consumers. The government will take strict action if any obstacle is observed anywhere in the country.