Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Cheema on Thursday said the government would ensure adequate supplies of wheat and petroleum products across the country, warning that no hoarding, artificial shortage or profiteering would be tolerated as authorities reviewed the national supply situation.
Ahad Cheema vows to ensure adequate wheat, fuel supplies; warns of zero tolerance for hoarding, profiteering
ISLAMABAD, Jul 16 (APP): Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Cheema on Thursday said the government would ensure adequate supplies of wheat and petroleum products across the country, warning that no hoarding, artificial shortage or profiteering would be tolerated as authorities reviewed the national supply situation.
He expressed these views while chairing a meeting to review the country’s wheat situation and assess demand and supply across the provinces, a news release said.
He directed all stakeholders to maintain close coordination to safeguard food security, market stability and farmers’ interests.
The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for National Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain, Secretary National Food Security Amir Ali Ahmad, Punjab Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman, Sindh Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shahab, Adviser to the Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Muzammil Aslam, Sindh Food Minister and other senior officials.
Participants reviewed wheat production, existing stocks and the overall demand and supply position in the country.
The provincial chief secretaries informed the meeting that the current wheat supply situation in their respective provinces remained normal, though additional allocations from the federal government might be required to meet future needs and ensure uninterrupted availability.
Ahad Cheema said the federal government would make every possible effort to meet provincial wheat requirements from the Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (PASSCO) stocks.
He said protecting the interests of both consumers and farmers while ensuring uninterrupted wheat availability remained the government’s top priority, adding that all wheat management decisions would be based on domestic production, market conditions and the welfare of local growers.
The minister directed the relevant authorities to maintain strict vigilance against hoarding and market manipulation to ensure sufficient wheat availability ahead of the upcoming sowing season.
Rana Tanveer Hussain told the meeting that PASSCO would fully support and facilitate provincial governments in managing wheat supplies and maintaining market availability.
The meeting also reviewed the availability of petroleum products and discussed reports of fuel hoarding by certain Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs).
Chairperson of the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), Nabeel Ahmad Awan, briefed participants on the prevailing fuel supply situation and enforcement measures.
Ahad Cheema and the Secretary Establishment directed provincial chief secretaries to take immediate action against petrol pumps and OMCs found involved in hoarding fuel or exploiting the prevailing regional situation for undue profiteering.
The provincial chief secretaries assured the meeting that their administrations would work closely with OGRA officials to curb hoarding and ensure uninterrupted fuel supplies throughout the country.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to energy security, Ahad Cheema said Pakistan had sufficient petroleum stocks and there was no fuel shortage in the country.
He said the government would not allow any Oil Marketing Company or petrol pump to create an artificial shortage for profiteering, adding that while legitimate businesses would not be harassed, strict legal action would be taken against anyone found involved in hoarding, profiteering or disrupting the supply of essential commodities.
