PM seeks unhindered availability of wheat

Directs all provincial chief secys to evolve a coordinated strategy for the purpose

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday directed all the provincial chief secretaries to evolve a coordinated strategy under the chairmanship of Minister for National Food Security Syed Fakhar Imam and ensure availability of sufficient stock of wheat in every province along with the uniform price of the commodity in all the federating units.

Chairing a meeting to review the steps taken to reduce the prices of edible items, PM Imran said that provision of wheat and flour at affordable prices and their unhindered availability was the top priority of his government.

The premier observed that farmer and common citizen should be the axis of this strategy as in the past elements involved in profiteering and hoarding had not only deprived the growers of their due profit but also compelled the common citizens to buy flour at exorbitant rates.

The provincial chief secretaries presented a comparative review of the steps taken to bring down the prices of essential commodities and the results obtained from these measures.

In view of the prevailing Covid-19 situation in the country, the participants of the meeting were also briefed about the availability of essential medicines in the provinces and steps taken to ensure uninterrupted supply of oxygen.

Referring to the crackdown against the hoarding of sugar and flour, the Punjab chief secretary apprised the meeting that until now 716 tonnes of flour and 16,008 tonnes of sugar worth over Rs1 billion had been confiscated from major stockists and dealers.

The meeting was informed that as a result of the steps taken by the administration and authorities concerned, the price of sugar in Punjab was at its lowest.

The premier called for a zero-tolerance policy against adulteration and sought further strict action against hoarders of sugar in the wake of joint investigation team's report.

The Punjab chief secretary informed the participants that after the approval from the provincial cabinet, the provincial government was releasing wheat worth about Rs35 billion tomorrow (Tuesday).

Th chief secretary noted that the initiative would not only end the shortage of flour but also reduce its price in a step-wise manner.

The premier called for unhindered inter-provincial movement of wheat.

The meeting was attended by Minister for National Food Security Syed Fakhar Imam, Finance Adviser Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, Commerce Adviser Abdul Razaq Dawood, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Political Communication Dr Shahbaz Gill and other senior officials, while Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan chief secretaries and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa additional chief secretary also participated in the session through video link.