Food security concerns rise amidst second wave

Provincial govt directs measures to ensure the availability of essential food items if Covid-19 crisis spirals

PESHAWAR:

With a second wave of the novel coronavirus underway in the province, concerns have arisen over food security, particularly on balancing demand and supply of essential items.

To cope with the economic impacts, the provincial government has directed local administration to ensure supply of essential items in the province.

These directives were issued on Thursday during a meeting of the Provincial Task Force.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Additional Chief Secretary Shakil Qadir, who was chairing the meeting, directed the K-P Bureau of Statistics to complete the second phase of their survey on jobs and income losses by December. This data, he said, will be crucial in helping the government understand lasting economic and employment impacts of novel coronavirus (Covid-19) in the province.

Although Covid-19 is primarily a health matter, the crisis may spread from emergency healthcare to food security, if not managed properly, he warned.

The meeting also deliberated over assigning roles and proposing measures for ensuring the availability of essential commodities in case the second wave spirals in the province.

The meeting directed to notify all the deputy commissioners and district food controllers to implement decisions.

It was decided that the K-P Food Department will closely monitor and report the demand and supply gap for essential food items in all districts of the province.

The additional chief secretary also directed to ensure sufficient availability of essential food items.

These steps, he hoped, would balance the cumulative demand and supply of food items and keep prices in check.

District food controllers were tasked with collecting and updating data of available stocks in their respective districts daily. Each district’s stock position will be uploaded and shared through the online data portal managed by the Performance Management and Reforms Unit.

In March, the K-P government had notified the Provincial Task Force and tasked it with evaluating the impact of Covid-19 and to propose measures to boost the economy and create employment in the province.

E-commerce council formed

Meanwhile, the K-P government has formed an e-commerce council to promote the digital economy.

The council will be led by the K-P chief secretary while it will include representatives from the public and private sectors.

The council will provide strategic information about policymaking for enhancing the online economy. The council will also propose recommendations to the provincial cabinet about progress on e-commerce in the province.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 6^th, 2020.