Food prices in Pakistan: WFP tenders apology for ''misleading story''

The representative of the World Food Programme (WFP) on Thursday tendered apology for a misleading story regarding high food prices in Pakistan.
"I would like to sincerely apologise for the unfortunate press reports that emerged from my press briefing in Geneva that was picked up by AFP, and quoted by Pakistani newspapers," Representative of WFP Wolfgang Herbinger said in a statement issued here on Thursday. He clarified that in his press briefing at the United Nations in Geneva on Wednesday, he spoke about the difficult food security situation in the country after the repeated shocks the population experienced over the past three years: first, the 2008 global food price crisis and the economic difficulties, then the 2009 displacements in the north west and in 2010 the biggest flood in Pakistan''s history.
When asked about food prices, he noted that the prices have been high since the 2008 global food price crisis and that an increasing number of poor households have difficulties to afford them.
"Although I sought to explain the many factors causing the food price rise, my statements unfortunately did not do full justice to the many efforts by the government to ensure food security in the country. Please accept my sincerest apologies. Food prices are a global phenomenon and our organisation is committed to ensuring the hungry poor in Pakistan and elsewhere in the world have access to the food they need for a healthy life," he added. He said that regarding the flood response he stressed that it was very successful because of the government and international actions.
"The Government actions involved immediate relief through civil and military authorities, the successful WATAN card programme and the timely supply of seeds and fertilisers," he remarked.
International assistance, he said, in particular food and health, assisted in preventing any hunger or health crisis. Food, WATAN card, seeds and fertilisers were the key ingredients that enabled the vast majority of flood affected farmers to clear their lands and plant the rabbi crop and thus achieve a very positive production outlook.