ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has said he has directed the Ministry of National Food, Security and Research, and the provinces to ensure provision and availability of wheat and flour in all the provinces at uniform price as it was need of every citizen, and has directed the provinces to make sure free inter-province movement of wheat.
While chairing a meeting to review measures taken to reduce prices of essential commodities in the country, the premier directed all the provincial chief secretaries under the chairmanship of Minister for National Food Security Syed Fakhar Imam to devise a well-coordinated strategy to ensure sufficient stock of wheat and flour in every province as per requirement at uniform prices.
He added that availability of wheat at affordable prices was top priority of the government and asked the provinces to ensure free inter-province movement.
The prime minister directed to adopt a zero-tolerance policy against adulteration as well as called for taking action against hoarders of sugar in light of the Joint Investigation Team's report.
Briefing the meeting, the chief secretary Punjab informed that 716 tons of flour and 16,0008.5 tons of sugar worth over one billion rupees have been confiscated from big hoarders of sugar and dealers.
The meeting was also informed that prices of sugar are less in Punjab as a result of effective measures taken by the administration in the province.
The chief secretary apprised the participants that the Punjab Government is going to release wheat worth Rs35 billion, which will help end flour shortage as well as slashing prices of the wheat and flour in a gradual manner.
The meeting was attended by Minister for National Food Security and Research Syed Fakhar Imam, Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, Adviser on Commerce Razak Dawood, chief secretaries Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan, and additional chief secretary Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa by video link.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
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