Rana Sikandar-e-Azam Khan President Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FCCI) has expressed concern over inflation and increase in food related items. In a statement, he said the prime minister is also concerned over this situation and has immediately convened a meeting of different related ministries to reign in continues increase in eatables.

He said that at present inflation is around 22% which is expected to jump to 27% by the end of this calendar year. He said that Rs.7 billion package for Utility Stores is a positive step but it is not enough to facilitate common man.

He said that government has itself increased the prices of electricity, gas and petroleum products but it is not ready to accept that increase in these products has trickledown affects but the onus of price hike is being put on the business community.

He said that appreciation of dollar and levy of duties on imports of products has already increased the prices of food items. He said that dollars has increased by 35% but government has not yet increased the proportionate prices of different items at whole sale and retail stage. He said that government must fix the prices and gear up the administration to ensure the sale of commodities at fixed rates for the satisfaction of the common man.