Finance minister stresses to prevent hoarding, undue profiteering in market

Finance minister stresses to prevent hoarding, undue profiteering in market
APP86-090821 ISLAMABAD: August 09 – Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Mr. Shaukat Tarin chairing the meeting of the National Price Monitoring Committee (NPMC) to review the price trend of Essential Commodities. APP

ISLAMABAD, Aug 9 (APP):Finance Minister, Shaukat Tarin on Monday stressed the need for meaningful interventions in the market by building strategic reserves of basic commodities to prevent hoarding and undue profiteering.

Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Shaukat Tarin, chaired the meeting of National Price Monitoring Committee (NPMC) held at the Finance Division.

In his remarks, the Finance Minister urged the importance of significant interventions in the market by building strategic reserves of basic commodities namely wheat, sugar, edible oil/ghee, vegetables and pulses to prevent hoarding and undue profiteering in the market, said a press release issued by Ministry of Finance here.

The Government will flood the markets with necessary commodities to bridge the supply and demand gap where needed to check price hike.

Pakistan is the net importer of key food items such as wheat, sugar and pulses.
The current upsurge in international food prices amid coronavirus pandemic makes it imperative to build strategic reserves of essential Commodities to bring stability in prices of daily use items.

The Finance Minister directed Secretary Ministry of National Food Security and Research (NFS-R) Ghufran Memon to workout modalities for establishing commodity warehouses, storage facilities and agri-malls on basis of Public Private Partnership (PPP) and present a detailed proposal before the Committee.

Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Food Security, Jamshed Cheema stated that a proposal in this regard has been finalized and would be presented shortly for approval.
?Secretary, M/o NFS&R updated the NPMC about availability of sufficient stocks of wheat in the country.

He also updated the Committee about the efforts underway regarding procurement of wheat.

The Chairman TCP apprised the NPMC about the tenders floated in international market for purchasing Wheat and Sugar.

?The Finance Minister expressed satisfaction and directed to complete the procurement of Wheat and Sugar in phases, keeping in view, the prevailing international prices.

The Finance Minister also urged to look into financial hedging of risks with reference to import of key commodities.

While reviewing the current market price and stocks of Sugar, the Finance Minister constituted a sub-committee comprising of Secretary Ministry of NFS&R, Secretary M/o Industries and Production Mr. Kamran Ali Afzal, Chairman FBR Asim Ahmed, Chairman TCP, Riaz Ahmed Memon and a representative of the Ministry of Commerce to expedite import of 0.6 million metric ton of Sugar to ensure smooth supply across the country.

?The Chairperson CCP Ms. Rahat Kaunain Hassan apprised the Committee about the stern actions being taken to end cartelization in the edible Oil and Ghee sector to ensure fair competition throughout the country.

The Finance Minister directed the Chairperson CCP to accelerate efforts and present a detailed report before the forum at the earliest.

Earlier, the Secretary Finance briefed the meeting on trends in weekly SPI, which increased marginally by 0.12 percent during the week under review.

Prices of 06 items including chicken, eggs, wheat flour bags, onions and tomatoes have declined whereas 23 items remained stable.

The NPMC reviewed the Year-on-Year international commodity prices and noted a massive price hike in major food items.

Sugar registered a 44.4 percent increase in Y-o-Y comparison, palm oil 52.3 percent , soya bean oil 78.8 percent and wheat 18 percent respectively.

Correspondingly in the country, the sugar registered an increase of 19.33 percent, edible oil 27.25 percent, vegetable ghee 29.40 percent and wheat 11.77 percent respectively.

The Government absorbed the pressure by giving subsidies and importing staple food items in order to provide maximum relief to the consumers.

Similarly, there was enormous increase in the price of crude oil by 73.8 percent on international level whereas Government of Pakistan reduced levy on petrol and petroleum based products. The Coronavirus pandemic has played havoc with global food prices due to supply chain disruptions. The above comparative analysis reflects that the Govt sustained pressure to provide relief and keep overall inflation in check.

Among others, the SAPM on Food Security, Jamshed Cheema, SAPM on Finance and Revenue Dr. Waqar Masood, Secretary Finance Division, Secretary M/o Industries and Production, Secretary M/o National Food Security and Research, Provincial Chief Secretaries, Chairman FBR, Chief Commissioner ICT, Chairman TCP, Chairman CCP, DG PBS and other senior officers participated in the meeting

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