The Federal Food Committee Chairman has categorically denied that any edible oil crisis was looming in the country, saying that there were sufficient stocks of the commodity.
"The surge in the prices of edible oil does not mean that there was any crisis of the commodity and the increase in its price in the domestic market was due to a hike in palm oil prices in the international market", the meeting observed.
The FFC meeting presided over by its Chairman Lieutenant General Farooq Ahmed Khan (Retd) also reviewed the availability of essential edibles in the country besides flour and wheat situation.
Besides the representatives of four provinces, the meeting was attended by representatives of Frontier Constabulary (FC) and Rangers, Utility Stores Corporation (USC), AJK Food Department, Pakistan Vanaspati Manufacturers Association (PVMA), All Pakistan Sugar Mills Association, All Pakistan Dal Merchant Association and Pakistan Oil and Seeds Development Board.
The meeting expressed satisfaction over the current flour availability in country and noted that all the four provinces and AJK were being provided enough stock and price of the commodity was becoming stable and even coming down with each passing day.
The representative of PVMA in his presentation said that there was no shortage of edible oil/ghee in the country as the country was having enough stock of the commodity. He said the only reason for increase in edible oil/ghee price was the unprecedented hike in the international market. The domestic prices are relatively high as the edible/cooking oil manufacturing and marketing companies are forced to sell their products on the prevailing cost of palm oil, he said.
It was also informed the bids to smuggle flour to Afghanistan from NWFP and Balochistan were foiled and that stern action was also taken against those involved in selling the commodity at higher prices.
The representative of sugar mills association said that the country had enough stock of sugar. He said this year about 4.5 million tonnes was expected to be produced as compared to last year''s 3.5 million tonnes. He said so far 2.2 million tonnes of sugarcane had been crushed and converted into sugar. He said that as far as the availability of the commodity is concerned it would remarkably good.
Farooq warned the flour mills said that the government was providing a 100 per cent quota of wheat to flour mills and any mill involved in hoarding of the commodity more than one day without grinding and marketing it would be confiscated.
He said that the government would take stern action against the hoarders and profiteers. The meeting was informed that on February 6-7, law enforcement agencies foiled a bid to smuggle 800 bags of flour 40 kg per bag in NWFP. It was decided that this flour would be distributed among the displaced people in the province.
Similarly, the meeting was informed that in Sindh action has been taken against eight flour mills and their two wheat quota has been suspended but the quota was given to other mills so that no shortage of the commodity could occur.
The meeting was further informed that in Balochistan action has been taken against ten flour mills for violating the code and rules. He added that action have been taken against many flour mills in Punjab for similar violations.