TAHIR AMIN

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday vowed to put in place a strategy to bring down food prices. Khan took to Twitter on Saturday, and stated that starting Monday in the coming week, the government would use all the resources at state’s disposal to bring down food prices.

“We are already examining causes of the price hikes: whether there is a genuine supply shortage or simply hoarding by mafias, smuggling, if any; or a price rise due to international prices such as for palm oil, lentils etc,” said PM Khan, adding that from the next week, the government would have its strategy in place, and action would begin using all state organisations and resources to bring down food prices.

Soon after PM Khan’s statement, Federal Minister for Industries and Production Hammad Azhar also tweeted, that while saying South Asia has witnessed a temporary food inflation spike the government will take all measures needed to reduce prices of essential commodities.

Imported wheat and sugar will be released at control rates by the provinces. All options are being examined for other commodities, Azhar added.

According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), the Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) for the week ended October 8, 2020, recorded an increase of 1.24 percent, over last week, due to rise in prices food items.

The PM on Saturday also took strong notice of overpricing of food items at rest areas along the motorways, and directed the National Highways Authority (NHA), and the Motorway Police chief to take action against profiteers fleecing people.

The directives came following a number of complaints were made on the Pakistan Citizen’s Portal.

The prime minister also directed the authorities to seek assistance, if required, from the district administrations.

He also directed that banners encouraging people to lodge complaints on the Citizen’s Portal be also put up at visible places of rest areas.

The food items reportedly being sold at inflated rates include tea/coffee, juices, mineral water, soft/cold drinks, biscuits, and chips.

According to an official statement, a significant surge in prices has been reported on the Pakistan Citizen’s Portal by the public at the tuck-shops all along M-1 and M-2.

According to the PMDU’s policy desk, commuters have lamented that the prices being charged at various rest areas’ shops are much higher than the market prices.

The items specifically reported with high prices include beverages among other consumables, and grocery items.

In majority of the complaints, not only locations of the shops are specifically mentioned but also the items with prices charged.

According to the policy desk, a very high and unjustified profit ratio is being maintained, and prices being charged are high to an unreasonable extent.

The analysis further says that instances of actions/fines by the district administration concerned have also been reported but once in a blue moon, and no regular mechanism exists for checks.

The prime minister has already taken a serious note of all kinds of price hike in the country, and has been consistently chairing meetings to review price control initiatives.

Adhering to this, the prime minister has directed that the issue in hand shall be taken up at higher level, and strict action shall be initiated to curb the practice of charging excessive prices on tuck shops located on all motorway rest areas.

Zone-wise dedicated teams/staff shall be deputed by the NHA to maintain regular check on the prices, with the support of the district administration concerned.