PBS highlights food price disparities

October 09, 2024 (MLN): The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) has highlighted a significant disparity between food prices in the open market and the wholesale and retail costs of essential commodities at both provincial and national levels.

The Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Special Initiatives chaired a meeting of National Price Monitoring Committee on Tuesday. Representatives of PBS briefed a detailed presentation on inflation situation in Pakistan.

PBS also observed that the decrease in petroleum product prices has not been effectively translated to transport services. The Minister for Planning stated that despite the reduction in petroleum product prices, there has been no decrease in transport service rates, which is a matter of concern.

In this regard, he directed provincial governments to take immediate steps to reduce transport, wholesale, and retail prices.

Ahsan Iqbal emphasized that the government is taking strong measures to provide maximum relief to the common man, and there will be no compromise in this regard.

The Minister for Planning said in the meeting that a significant decrease in inflation has been observed this month compared to the previous month.

He added that the prices of food items have dropped considerably compared to last year, providing relief to the common man.

The Minister for PD&SI Ahsan Iqbal and Minister for Petroleum Mussadiq Malik emphasized that the government is committed to provide maximum relief to the citizens of Pakistan.

They urged the provincial governments and ICT Administration to ensure strict enforcement of price control mechanisms especially in case of minimizing the wholesale-retail price differential and reduction in transport fares.

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