PM urges effective steps to check hoarding, profiteering

ISLAMABAD: Chairing a meeting on controlling prices of essential items, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday directed to make administrative steps more effective to curtail hoarders and profiteers.

The prime minister directed the provincial administrations to take effective steps against profiteering and hoarding besides sending daily and weekly analysis report on rise and fall of prices of essential items at urban and rural tehsils of each district to the Prime Minister’s Office in order to keep a check on the situation of prices.

PM Imran Khan further said due to climate impact the availability of commodities should be determined on proper time so that there is no shortage of commodities.

The meeting decided that government will provide farmers’ place at every tehsil where they could sell their commodities without any fee or expenditure.

The forum also took the decision to utilise the network of utility stores across the country in a better way to provide people the essential items on realistic and reasonable prices.

PM Khan directed to make border management more effective to stop the smuggling of wheat, flour and fine flour. The meeting decided to take strict action against elements involved in smuggling and the officials abetting them.

The prime minister was informed of the reduction in prices of ghee after the decision of government to defer implementation of axle load policy. The prime minister said reduction in prices of ghee should be ensured to provide relief to the public after the deferment of axel load implementation.

PM Khan directed to establish a special cell in Ministry of Food Security on immediate basis in order to make timely decisions on the basis of demand and supply estimates in future. This will also help institutionalise the demand and supply estimate system with respect to essential items used by people.

The prime minister also directed to utilise the technology to reduce difference in prices. The prime minister said it is state obligation to ensure availability of items of daily use to each citizen and all out steps be taken in this regard so that no citizen sleeps hungry.

Provincial chief ministers briefed the prime minister on availability of wheat in the provinces and its prices. The meeting was apprised that availability of wheat in the provinces is satisfactory and there is no complaint of shortage in any part of the country.

Chief Commissioner Islamabad briefed the meeting on app ‘Accurate Prices’ in order to provide information to the public on prices of various items.

The meeting decided to replicate the system implemented in the federal capital to large cities of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Meanwhile, chairing a briefing regarding proposed new local bodies system, Prime Minister Imran Khan said new local government system is aimed at transfer of powers to grassroot level and ensure development and solution of problems at local level.

He said that new local government system to be introduced by the government will bring about a revolution to empower the people of Pakistan. He said under the new system, mayor will be directly elected by the people.