ISLAMABAD, Dec 14: The prices of 16 essential items have increased significantly during the week ended on December 2, official statistics suggest.
The government, however, announced last week that prices had come down and the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) had expressed satisfaction over the situation.
The minutes of the ECC suggested that "prices of 16 items registered increase, those of 12 items declined and of 25 items remained stable". It said the increase in price of eggs (farm) was 6.17 per cent, moog pulse (washed) price increased by 2.80 per cent, gram dal (washed) 1.27 per cent. Price of bread and milk (fresh) increased by 1.36 per cent and 1.01 per cent respectively.
Increase in case of firewood and LPG was 1.24 per cent and 1.20 per cent respectively. Similarly, price of cement and fertilizers also increased marginally during the week.
In overall terms, the sensitive price indicator decreased by 0.54 per cent. For the low income group, the decrease was 0.70 per cent. The prices of non-food items, however, increased by 0.09 per cent in case of combined income group and by 0.40 per cent in case of lowest income category.
The ECC was informed that the prices of various items in Pakistan continued to be lower than the neighbouring countries except CNG, LPG, kerosene and natural gas. The ECC was informed that stock position of various oil products was at satisfactory level and better compared with the corresponding period of last year.
Stocks of HOBC, furnace oil and kerosene as on November 4, 2004 were available for 52 days, 63 days and 27 days respectively. Wapda have stocks of furnace oil for 63 days coverage.
Wheat stock with the provincial governments as on December 5 were 1,665,125 tons in Punjab, 220,079 tons in Sindh, 97,830 tons in NWFP and 120,447 tons in Balochistan. These stocks were considered sufficient for 111 days in Punjab, 40 days in Sindh, 20 days in NWFP and 120 days in Balochistan. Passco stocks are 277,885 tons.
