Pakistan Govt. Vows Strict Action Against Food Hoarding and Price Gouging
ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Wednesday warned that the government will take firm action against hoarding, artificial shortages, and overpricing of essential food items.
Chairing a high-level meeting focused on the supply and availability of key commodities, especially sugar, Senator Dar instructed authorities to ensure the government’s policy of providing affordable food to the public is fully enforced.
The meeting included top officials such as Minister for National Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain, SAPM Tariq Bajwa, Secretary of Industries and Production, Federal Board of Revenue members, DG Federal Investigation Agency, representatives from the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association, and provincial departments.
Inflation Sees Slight Decline Amid Ongoing Challenges
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s weekly inflation, measured by the Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI), decreased by 0.11% during the week ending June 12, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).
The SPI dropped from 309.85 points last week to 309.51 points, marking a 1.41% decline compared to the same week last year. The SPI tracks prices across 17 urban centers and covers 51 essential items for all expenditure groups.
However, slight increases were noted in the lowest consumption groups: those spending up to Rs 17,732 saw a 0.15% rise in SPI, while the Rs 17,732 to Rs 22,888 group recorded a 0.04% increase.
Govt. Focuses on Affordable Food Supply
The government continues to prioritize the availability and affordability of essential food commodities to support consumers amid economic pressures.
