Serving masses govt’s topmost priority: PM Imran

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has said the government has set priorities to solve the longstanding problems of the people and eradicate corruption from the government departments across the country.

While chairing a meeting to review the prices of basic commodities, PM Khan directed an indiscriminate action against hoarders and ordered strict measures for bringing down the prices of the basic commodities.

The meeting was attended by federal ministers, advisers, special assistants and chief secretaries of the four provinces, where PM Imran was briefed over the availability of the basic commodities and action against hoarders nationwide.

On this occasion, the prime minister ordered all concerned officials to provide maximum relief to the masses by bringing down the prices of the basic products. He said that improving the well-being of the general public and addressing their issues and needs would be the topmost priority of the government.

PM Khan directed the provincial chief secretaries to continue the policy of zero-tolerance against adulteration and not to make any concessions in this regard.

The prime minister also ordered to ensure complete prevention of wheat smuggling. He directed that comprehensive administrative measures should be taken to further improve inter-provincial coordination.

PM Khan said that Pakistan came into being to implement the concept of an Islamic welfare state, in line with the principles of the State of Medina with an objective to uplift the downtrodden and weaker segments.

He said that his tenure as prime minister was the ‘biggest struggle of his life filled with challenges’, including a crashed economy, foreign debts and power crisis.

Sources disclosed that under the initiative from the federal government to tackle the wheat crisis, two wheat-laden ships would arrive in the country on 24 and 28 August.

Sources further said the ships will bring more than 130,000 metric tonnes of wheat, adding that nine more ships would reach the country by the end of September, bringing 500,000 metric tonnes of wheat.

In order to ensure the availability of wheat and flour in the country throughout the year at affordable prices, the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) on July 15 had directed the Ministry of National Food Security and Research to accelerate efforts for wheat imports.

According to a press statement, ECC directed the food ministry to hold meetings with the major importers of wheat at the earliest and come up with proposals.