ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh has urged the provincial governments to strictly monitor their increase in prices of eggs and vegetable ghee. During a meeting of the National Price Monitoring Committee (NPMC) on Monday, the finance minister also directed the secretary commerce to call a meeting with the representatives of the provincial governments and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to take further steps in that regard.

The NPMC reviewed the price trend of essential commodities. The finance secretary apprised the NPMC that there had been a consistent decline in the weekly SPI over the last four weeks. The SPI registered a decline of 0.22 percent, notably in essential food commodities namely wheat, tomatoes, onions, potatoes, and chicken.

During the meeting, the secretary MNFS&R presented before the NPMC the current status of wheat and sugar stocks. The improved availability of both commodities has resulted in significant decline in prices for the consumers.

Adviser to the PM on Commerce, Abdul Razaq Dawood, the SAPM on Revenue, Dr Waqar Masood, the secretary MNFS&R, Special Secretary Commerce, Additional Secretary Industries and Production, the chairman FBR, the provincial chief secretaries, MD PASSCO, MD Utility Stores Corporation (USC), chairperson CCP, chairman TCP, member PBS, and senior officials of the Finance Division participated in the meeting.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020