Minister for Finance and Revenue Shaukat Tarin Wednesday said the government was taking measures to keep prices of the essential items in check.
He was presiding over a meeting of the National Price Monitoring Committee (NPMC) held here. Economic Adviser Finance Division briefed the Committee about weekly Sensitive Price Index (SPI) which increased by 0.40% as compared to previous week which was 0.55%. Prices of 05 items registered decline which contributed decline in the SPI by 0.12%.
During the week, prices of potatoes declined by 0.04%, chilli powder 0.03%, onion 0.02%, wheat flour 0.03% and gur by 0.0004%. It was informed that prices of items marked decline during the week as compared to the prices for the same period in the last year.
The meeting was also informed that current prices of onion are lower as compared to three years earlier. The NPMC was informed that prices of 23 items remained stable whereas 23 items registered rise in prices which included ladies sandals 0.12%, tomatoes 0.03%, LPG 0.16%, eggs 0.07% and others 0.14%.
It was further informed that fluctuations in the petroleum prices have affected the LPG prices and the rise in the ladies sandals was due to the annual increase in the prices by the manufacturing companies. The NPMC was updated on the prices of wheat flour which marked a further decrease in the prices in the country.
The meeting expressed satisfaction over the availability of sufficient stocks of wheat in the country. The meeting also discussed the sowing situation of wheat in the country and was informed that sowing of wheat was satisfactory in Sindh and Punjab provinces whereas sowing in Baluchistan and KP provinces was affected due to the drought situation but now it was in good progress and wheat sowing targets will be completed. The NPMC was briefed on the sugar prices in the country and was informed that prices have shown slight increase in Rawalpindi, Karachi and Peshawar cities.
