ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday directed that all required administrative measures be ensured to make wheat flour available at affordable rates as it is an essential commodity and an increase in its price affects the poor people.

“The government is fully focusing on the provision of relief to the common man,” the prime minister said while presiding over a meeting held here to review the measures being taken to bring down the prices of essential items.

Ministers for finance and economic affairs, governor of the State Bank of Pakistan and senior officers attended the meeting.

The meeting was told that the business community and traders were encouraged by the government’s economic policies which, despite the Covid-19 pandemic, provided them conducive and business-friendly environment. Various suggestions for bringing down the prices of essential commodities were presented during the meeting, including administrative measures, utilisation of technology for ensuring transparency in the system and eliminating the exploitation of farmers.

The prime minister ordered early finalisation of these proposals so that their implementation could be ensured.

Presiding over another meeting to review the measures taken for reforms in priority sectors and increasing the number of Pakistani workforce in various countries, the prime minister said that strengthening relationship with the masses and their empowerment were the foremost priority of his government.

He said reforms in the governance system were aimed at creating ease for the people and ensuring provision of justice to them in every sector.

The meeting was briefed on the steps being taken to improve the governance system, amendment to, and imposition of, the existing laws, provision of justice to common citizens and improvement in police system, as well as the measures for increasing the number Pakistani workforce abroad.

The chief secretaries of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Islamabad chief commissioner briefed the prime minister on the measures being taken for improvement in the governance system.

A detailed briefing was given on the steps being taken for the redressal of public complaints, holding of open courts, early resolution of problems relating to revenue, improvement in service delivery, devolution of power, promotion of the use of technology, cleanliness drives in cities, easy access of people to senior officers, etc.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Khan directed all the provinces, especially Punjab and KP, where the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf is ruling, to activate district administrations against the land grabbers and take stern action against those officials who were involved in facilitating illegal occupation of state land.

Presiding over a meeting on housing and construction, the prime minister asked the authorities concerned to take action against illegal housing scheme and ensure that they could not be publicised on media and other forums. “Strict action be taken against the officials involved in supporting land grabbers,” he ordered.

In a separate meeting, the prime minister was apprised that the Roshan Digital Accounts facility had been provided to overseas Pakistanis in 97 countries after which $437 million had been sent to the country through these accounts.

The meeting was informed that so far 82,728 accounts had been opened and 600 to 700 were being opened on a daily basis and $6-7m were being remitted by overseas Pakistanis daily.

Published in Dawn, February 5th, 2021