Staff Reporter Islamabad
Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue, Mr. Shaukat Tarin, presided over the National Price Monitoring Committee (NPMC) meeting held at the Finance Division.
Secretary Finance, Secretary Industries & Production, MD Utility Stores Corporation, Provincial Chief Secretaries, Chief Statistician PBS and other senior officers participated in the meeting.
National Price Monitoring Committee reviewed the prices of daily use commodities and essential food items in the country.
The Secretary Finance briefed the NPMC about the weekly SPI situation which has been increased by 1.07% during the week under review.
While reviewing the price trend of essential commodities, the Secretary Finance apprised that prices of 10 essential commodities registered decline prices of 14 items remained stable during the last week.
The prices of essential commodities Onion, Potatoes, Cooking Oil registered significant decline as compared to same period last year, he added.
The Secretary Finance further updated NPMC that the prices of the wheat flour bags remained consistent at Rs. 1100 per 20 kg due to the proactive measures of the Punjab, KP Governments and ICT administration. The daily release of wheat by all the provincial governments will further ease out prices.
While reviewing the price of sugar in the country, the Secretary Finance informed that prices are easing out in Punjab and KP due to proactive measures of the government. The new stocks of sugar are arriving in the market which will further lower the prices.
The Advisor expressed satisfaction over the stability in the sugar prices and stressed Ministry of Industries and Production to take appropriate measures for creating strategic reserves of the sugar in the country for smooth supply of sugar in coming months.
While reviewing the prices of edible oil, the NMPC observed that the increase in prices of edible oil in the global market has affected the local prices, however, it was informed that international prices of palm oil/soyabean would start declining from January onward.
The Adviser stressed to ensure that the lower international prices be passed on to the domestic consumers.
