PM orders ensuring affordable food prices during Ramadan

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday underscored the government's commitment to ensuring the availability of essential food items at affordable prices, making it a top priority.

He directed relevant authorities to devise a comprehensive strategy to guarantee the provision of food at reasonable rates during the holy month of Ramadan.

Speaking at the Cabinet meeting, the Prime Minister stressed the importance of cooperation between the federal and provincial governments to deliver affordable food items to the public. He noted that collaboration is crucial to easing the burden on common citizens.

During the meeting, the Cabinet approved several key decisions. On the recommendation of the Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training, Dr. Hassan Al-Amin was appointed Director of the National Institute of Pakistan Studies at Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad. His appointment was based on merit through a transparent process.

The Cabinet also approved the appointment of Tahira Raza as a non-executive member of the State Bank of Pakistan for a five-year term, following a recommendation from the Ministry of Finance.

In terms of social policy, the Cabinet endorsed the strategy of interfaith harmony and religious tolerance, as recommended by the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony.

The strategy includes dialogues, conferences, and public awareness campaigns to promote religious tolerance, along with an action plan to safeguard the rights of religious minorities. Additionally, measures will be taken to prevent the circulation of hate material and address sectarian differences.

Furthermore, the Cabinet approved the appointments of Laila Ilyas Kalpana and Satwant Kaur as female members of the Evacuee Trust Property Board.

The Cabinet also ratified several decisions made in recent meetings, including those from the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC), the Cabinet Committee on Legislative Cases, and the Cabinet Committee on State-Owned Enterprises.