The essential commodities price in Pakistan is showing signs of stabilising, the Foreign Office said on Friday after Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar chaired a Cabinet Committee meeting on the issue. Officials told the meeting that adequate stocks are available to meet domestic demand and that no shortages are expected. Dar also warned that strict action will be taken against hoarding, artificial shortages and overpricing.
What the Cabinet Committee reviewed
The committee looked at three areas: the stock position, supply arrangements and prices of essential commodities. According to the Foreign Office, Dar was briefed that stocks were sufficient for the domestic market and that prices were settling rather than rising. The reports do not list the specific goods examined or publish the current essential commodities price in Pakistan, so the meeting's account cannot be used to compare one week's rates with another.
Ministers for national food security and for research and climate change attended, along with Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Bajwa, the commerce secretary, and senior officials from federal and provincial ministries and departments. The Foreign Office said the meeting was held in line with the prime minister's directives on supply and prices.
Warnings against hoarding and overpricing
Dar directed all concerned to monitor supply chains and commodity prices so that domestic consumers are facilitated. He stressed that strict action would be taken against hoarding, which means keeping stock off the market to push prices up later, as well as against artificial shortages and overpricing. The reports describe these as remarks made at the meeting; they do not describe a new rule being notified.
The reports do not say which agencies will carry out inspections, what penalties apply, or whether any case has been registered. Nor do they say that shortages have already occurred, since the meeting was told the opposite. They also give no date for a follow-up review. Until enforcement details are published, the warning is the clearest official message on how the essential commodities price in Pakistan will be policed.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Ishaq Dar ne Friday ko essential commodities ki stock, supply aur qeematon ka jaiza liya. Officials ne bataya ke stock kaafi hai aur qeematein stable ho rahi hain. Dar ne khabardar kiya ke hoarding, masnooi qillat aur zyada qeemat lenay par sakht action hoga. Is ka matlab hai ke abhi koi naya qeemat ka figure nahi bataya gaya, is liye bazaar mein qeematon par nazar rakhein.
