ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday said the government would ensure abundant availability of wheat and sugar in the country and directed the relevant departments for complete crackdown against those involved in hoarding of essential commodities.

He said this during a meeting to review wheat and sugar stocks, availability, demand and supply, import to meet future requirements and prices of essential commodities, a press release said.

The meeting was attended by Minister for Industries Muhammad Hammad Azhar, Minister for National Food Security Syed Fakhar Imam, PMs Advisers Abdul Razak Dawood and Ishrat Hussain, SAPM Lt Gen (retd) Asim Salim Bajwa and Dr Shahbaz Gill, relevant secretaries and other senior officials. Meanwhile, provincial chief secretaries also attended the meeting through video link.

PM Khan was given a detailed briefing over the current stock situation of wheat and sugar and its imports. He was also apprised of the prices of daily use commodities.

He directed the provincial governments to further increase supply of wheat, so that its sufficient availability in the market should be ensured. PM also directed for submission of detailed schedule over the imported wheat.

He directed provincial chief secretaries to conduct physical feasibility of the current sugar stock in the mills.

Punjab chief secretary was also directed to announce sugarcane crushing date in the earliest. Chief secretaries of Punjab and Sindh were directed to announce the official price rate of the sugarcane as early as possible..

Published in Dawn, October 7th, 2020