ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Tuesday ordered the Ministry of National Food Security to devise a mechanism to ensure the stability of wheat prices across the country and giving direct flour subsidy to those living below the poverty line.
The prime minister was chairing a meeting to review prices of daily commodities here on Tuesday wherein different proposals to ensure the availability of daily use items at suitable prices were considered.
The premier observed that there was no shortage of edible items in the country, and vowed that effective and practical steps to ensure stability in the prices of daily commodities, especially flour and wheat, would continue.
He directed the Ministry of National Food Security to formulate strategies in this regard in collaboration with other relevant ministries.
The prime minister also directed Minister for National Food Security and Research Syed Fakhar Imam formulate and head a committee for working out a comprehensive plan to make flour immediately available at suitable prices across the country.
Provincial governments, representatives of flour mills’ associations and other concerned departments are to be taken into confidence for the execution of the plan.
Further, Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Youth Affairs Usman Dar submitted a report compiled with the help of Tiger Force volunteers enlisting ground realities regarding the prices of daily use items.
The meeting was apprised that a 20 kg flour bag was being sold at Rs840 at 368 Sahulat bazaars in Punjab. These bazaars registered a 60 per cent sale of flour on a daily basis whereas the remaining 40 per cent remained unsold due to the lack of customers.
The prime minister directed the provincial governments to launch an indiscriminate full sale drive against hoarders and profiteers with the district administration’s help.
The meeting was further informed that more than 8,000 tonnes of wheat were being released from Sindh on a daily basis.
The prime minister directed Punjab government to ensure availability of flour at Utility Stores Corporation (USC) according to its requirement.
Moreover, Minister for Industries and Production Hammad Azhar apprised the meeting that 100,000 tonnes of sugar had arrived at Karachi out of which 25,000 tonnes and 75,000 tonnes were purchased by the USC and Punjab government, respectively.
The minister further said that sugar prices would go down with the beginning of sugarcane crushing season in Punjab starting from November 10.
“The same process would kick-start in Sindh from November 30,” he added.
BISP, Ehsaas program, zakat program, no taxation on agricultural sales and now another flour program. How long you will plunder the tax money to buy the votes ?