Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has warned of stern action against those who are indulging in hoarding and creating artificial shortage of essential food items in the country. The Prime Minister said this while chairing a meeting of the Committee on hoarding and inflation of Sugar Prices and other essential food items at PM House here Tuesday.
The Prime Minister directed the Committee to take immediate necessary measures to keep the prices of the essential food items at an affordable level particularly during the month of Ramazan while monitoring the prices of these items on weekly basis.
The Prime Minister directed the Minister for Industries and Production to hold an immediate meeting with the provincial governments and Pakistan Sugar Mills Association to ensure ample availability of sugar during the current season particularly during Ramazan. The meeting decided that third party inspection team will conduct random checks at the utility stores throughout the country for keeping check on prices, availability as well as quality. To ensure transparency and to stop pilferage, NLC shall be hired for the transportation of these items.
The meeting further decided that federal and provincial governments will evolve a joint mechanism for stabilising prices of commodities while keeping a check on hoarding. The meeting took stock of the current price situation of essential commodities particularly of sugar, flour, oil, ghee, etc and reviewed the recently announced Ramazan Package. During the meeting various decisions were made to provide immediate relief to the common man who is being severely affected due to hoarding and rise in the prices of essential food items.
The meeting decided that during the month of Ramazan the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) will be provided 100,000 tons of sugar through TCP stocks as against the usual supply of 40,000 tons per month. Thus 60,000 tons additional sugar would be made available to the people through the USC at Rs 38/- per kg during Ramazan. The meeting also decided to enhance the provision of flour to 150,000 from 100,000 tons to the USC as part of Ramzan Package enabling its outlets to sell flour at Rs 2/- per kg less than the market price.
The meeting further decided that as part of the Ramazan Package, Ghee and Oil shall be sold at Rs 91/ per kg, which is Rs 20/ per kg less than the market rate. To keep their price stable it was decided to increase the supply of Ghee/Oil to USC from 30,000 to 50,000 tons. The meeting decided that regulatory duty of 35% will be suspended on the import of potato to facilitate its easy availability during Ramazan.
The meeting was further informed that price of sugar in Pakistan is less as compared to its neighbouring countries, therefore, concerted efforts need to be in place to control and check smuggling. The meeting was briefed that in India, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Iran, sugar is being sold at Rs 50/-, 57/-, 52/- and 56/ per kg respectively.
The meeting decided to import 300,000 tons of raw sugar in coming months. The meeting was further informed that both Federal and Provincial Governments are taking necessary measures to control hoarding and high inflation of essential food items.
It was informed that Federal Government and all Provincial Governments have arranged to hold the Sunday, Friday and Ramazan Bazaars to supply essential items at affordable prices while USC will also set up their mobile outlets at these Sunday, Friday, Ramazan Bazaars to supply sugar, flour, ghee/ oil, etc. All provincial governments have appointed Special Price Magistrates to keep a strict check on prices. The meeting was attended by Federal Ministers of Finance, Food & Agriculture and Industries & Production, Federal Secretaries for Finance, Commerce, Industries & Production and Food & Agriculture.