INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
ISLAMABAD: National Price Monitoring Committee (NPMC) met here nowadays to take stock of supply and prices of food and pharmaceutical
items.The assembly was chaired by Finance Minister Asad Umar and attended by relevant federal ministries and provincial departments
The assembly reviewed prices of perishable and non-perishable food items, specificly 28 essential kitchen items
The committee was informed that volatility in the prices of perishable items specifically tomatoes, onions, grams and pulses was primarily
due to seasonal variations which has now subsided
The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI), which monitors mostly kitchen items for final two consecutive weeks in March 2019, is showing a sharp
declining trend which proposes that the prices of these items in the market are on a downward trajectory
The assembly decided that a strong forecasting mechanism shall be put in place to endegree availability of essential food items for the
coming 3 nsprint; 6 months in refer toation with the provincial governments
A monthly assembly of NPMC shall be held regularly to review supply and prices of all commodities and timely degrees shall be put in place
to avoid any shortage in the country
Finance Minister directed that market committees may be made more proactive to play a vigilant role in effectively monitoring prices and
check any hoarding across the country
It was also agreed to reduce price disparity among the provinces through an integrated market mechanism
NPMC decided that laws would be reviewed to endegree that price control mechanism proactively focuses on cartelization, hoarding and undue
The assembly reviewed the availability of commodities with specific reference to Ramzan
The Utility Store Corporation guaranteed NPMC that Government Ramzan Package shall be implemented to endegree sufficient availability of
commodities at affordable prices
The assembly agreed that Susta bazaars, Itwar bazaars and fair price shops shall be increased throughout the country to endegree sufficient
availability of commodities for common man at affordable prices
The Prime Minister shall chair a assembly to further review the supply and prices of food and pharmaceuticals in the country on Monday
The concerned ministries shall submit short and medium term policy recommendations as well as structural degrees needed to endegree smooth
supply and stability in the prices to the Prime Minister.TheIndianSubcontinent has not verified the content of the source
This first appeared/also appeared in
https://feedproxy.google.com/~r/com/YEor/~3/M0W-ZVrNJ9M/453405-finance-minister-chairs-meeting-of-national-price-monitoring-committee
