ISLAMABAD — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has directed federal and provincial authorities to take immediate steps to rein in rising wheat prices, including boosting market supplies and cracking down on hoarding and speculation.
Dar issued the instructions while chairing a cabinet committee meeting convened to review the stocks, prices and availability of essential commodities. He said ensuring food security and providing essential items at affordable prices remained key priorities for the government.
Stocks Deemed Sufficient
The meeting examined national stocks, procurement arrangements, domestic consumption and prevailing price trends. Officials told participants that supplies of essential commodities were adequate to keep local markets stable.
According to the officials, domestic and imported wheat stocks are sufficient to meet the country’s requirements until the next harvest.
On sugar, officials said the market price remained significantly below the government’s target retail price of Rs155 per kilogram, while available stocks were sufficient to meet demand until the next crushing season.
Warning Against Hoarding
Dar directed the relevant federal and provincial departments to closely monitor supply chains and market activity, stressing that hoarding and speculative practices would not be tolerated.
The meeting was attended by National Food Security and Research Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain, Climate Change Minister Musadik Malik, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Bajwa, the secretaries of the ministries of national food security and commerce, provincial chief secretaries and senior officials from relevant departments.
