Daily Times

The National Price Monitoring Committee (NPMC) on Wednesday expressed satisfaction over the wheat flour prices’ stability and availability of sufficient stocks of the commodity in the country. The NPMC, the meeting of which was presided over by Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Shaukat Tarin, however, expressed concerns about the slight increase in sugar prices in various cities owing to disruption in the supply caused by rain and fog.

Among others, the meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Industries and Production, Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar, Provincial Chief Secretaries, Economic Advisor Finance Division, Chief Statistician PBS, MD Utility Stores Corporation; Deputy Commissioner ICT and other senior officers.

On the occasion, Economic Adviser Finance Division apprised the NPMC on the weekly Sensitive Price Index, which increased slightly by 0.08pc in the week as compared to the previous week when it decreased by 0.50pc.

It was informed that 33 food items contributed to declining in the SPI by 0.14pc, whereas 18 non-food items contributed an increase of 0.22pc. Prices of 07 items registered decline which contributed to decline in the SPI by 0.46pc. During the week, prices of tomatoes declined by 0.11pc, chillies powder 0.26pc, eggs 0.05pc and others 0.04pc.

NPMC was informed that prices of 22 items remained stable and 25 items registered an increase in prices which contributed to an increase in the SPI by 0.54pc. Prices of potatoes increased by 0.03pc, chicken 0.12pc, petrol 0.21pc and others by 0.18pc.

The committee was informed that prices of tomatoes and onion in the last week were at the lowest as compared to their prices three years earlier. The meeting expressed satisfaction with the decline in the prices of the essential items.

NPMC was informed that except for the prices of moong pulse, there was an increase in the prices of other pulses and it was mainly due to exchange rate variations and an increase in freight charges. Further, the arrival of local production of gram pulse in near future would ease its price.

The Finance Minister expressed concerns about the increase in the prices of pulses and enquired about the production trend of pulses in the world and directed the Ministry of National Food Security and Research to build a strategy considering the lowest prices in the international market.

He also directed the Ministry of Food Security and Research and provincial governments to take creative measures to ensure a smooth supply of pulses at fair prices. The NPMC was also briefed on the availability of essential goods at subsidized rates at the Sasta & Sahulat Bazaars across the country.

Shaukat Tarin lauded the efforts of the government of the Punjab, KP, and Islamabad Administration in providing key items at discounted prices through arranging Sastaa Bazaars and also expressed satisfaction with the availability of essential items at low rates in Sastaa Bazaars in Sindh and Baluchistan.

He advised Sindh and Baluchistan governments to extend Sastaa Bazaars for the welfare of the general public. He also underscored the efforts being made for keeping the prices of essential items in check and measures to ensure a smooth supply of essential commodities throughout the country.