PM asks Tiger Force to regularly check eatables’ prices

ISLAMABAD: A day after promising to bring down the prices of essential commodities, Prime Minister Imran Khan asked the ‘Tiger Force’ to regularly check prices of lentils, flour, sugar ghee in their localities and post on the portal for taking up on coming Saturday.

“On coming Saturday I will be meeting tiger force at Convention center. From now till then I want our tiger force to regularly check the prices of daal (Pulses), atta (flour), sugar, ghee in their localities and post on the portal of the force. We will discuss in Saturday meeting, tweeted the Prime Minister on Sunday.

The prime Minister has promised to bring down the prices of essential commodities and stated the his government was already examining the causes of the price hikes to ascertain whether there is price increase consequent o genuine supply shortage or simply hoarding by mafias and smuggling was the case or international prices such as for palm oil, lentils etc.

The Prime Minister also promised that from the next week (today until next Saturday), the government would have its strategy in place, and action would begin using all state organizations and resources to bring down food prices. There has been a considerable increase in the prices of essential commodities, especially, massive increase in the price of flour as well as sugar and other essential kitchen items affected the poor and common man most.

An official on condition of anonymity said that the senior officials have also acknowledged during a meeting of the National Price Monitoring Committee (NPMC) held in Finance Ministry on October 5, 2020.

An official statement released by the finance ministry stated Special Secretary Finance chaired a meeting of NPMC on October 5, 2020 – also attended by the representatives from the Provincial governments, ICT, Industries, Commerce and National Food Security ministries as well as CCP and PBS – to look into the reasons behind increase in prices of essential commodities –perishable items.

The meeting noted that the profit margin between wholesale and retail has risen especially in potatoes, tomatoes and onions and Special Secretary Finance wanted the district administrations to be vigilant and control the prices of essential commodities namely tomato, potato, wheat, sugar etc. through strict price enforcement.

He3 also asked the Provincial governments to take corrective measures to check undue profit margin in basic commodities.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020