Conduct complete crackdown against hoarders: Imran

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday while resolving that the government would ensure abundant availability of wheat and sugar in the country, directed conducting a complete crackdown against those elements involved in hoarding of these essential commodities.

The prime minister was chairing a meeting to review the wheat and sugar stocks, availability, demand and supply, import to meet future requirements and prices of essential commodities of life, according to a statement issued by the PM Office’s Media Wing.

The meeting was attended by Minister for Industries Muhammad Hammad Azhar, Minister for National Food Security Syed Fakhar Imam, PM's advisers Abdul Razak Dawood and Ishrat Hussain, PM's special assistants Lt Gen (retd) Asim Saleem Bajwa and Dr Shahbaz Gill, relevant secretaries and other senior officials.

The provincial chief secretaries attended the meeting through video link.

The prime minister was given a detailed briefing on the current stock situation of wheat and sugar and import.

He was also apprised of the prices of daily use commodities.

The prime minister directed the provincial governments to further increase supply of wheat so that its sufficient availability in the market should be ensured.

He also directed for submission of a detailed schedule over the imported wheat.

The prime minister directed the provincial chief secretaries to conduct physical feasibility of the current sugar stock in the mills.

The Punjab chief secretary was also directed to announce sugarcane crushing date at the earliest. The chief secretaries of Punjab and Sindh were directed to announce the official price rate of the sugarcane as early as possible. (With additional input from app)