The government has suspended the export of gram pulse with immediate effect to check price hike in domestic market, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz announced on Thursday. The Prime Minister was talking to media persons after chairing a special meeting to review the prices of essential commodities.
The decision of suspending export of gram pulse has been taken a day after the government announced suspension of wheat export. Prime Minister Aziz said the government would not allow increase in the prices of daily use items so as to facilitate the common man.
He said if export of gram pulse and wheat go unchecked the result would be uncontrollable price hike. He termed supply management an effective way to control prices and said suspension in export of wheat and gram pulse would yield fruitful results.
The Prime Minister said the country had a record wheat crop this year while there was a 70 percent increase in gram crop, adding increase in prices was unacceptable in view of such results. Aziz said hoarding of wheat and manipulation of market would not be tolerated, while the provincial governments had been already asked to monitor the supply and price situation closely.
The Prime Minister mentioned decline in the wholesale rates of wheat after the government decision to suspend its export. He said the price of wheat flour per kilogram was Rs 13 in Pakistan, which was much low as compared to Rs 22 in India.
The Prime Minister mentioned the role of Utility Stores in providing the common man quality products at affordable rates, adding their number had been increased from 450 to 900, and would be further extended to 1,000 by end of June. He emphasised the need to improve distribution chain of Utility Stores in the country with specific focus on rural areas.
The meeting was also attended by Minister for Industries Jehangir Tareen, Minister for Food and Agriculture Sikandar Bosan, State Minister for Finance Omar Ayub and other high-ups.