ISLAMABAD: The National Price Monitoring Committee (NPMC) on Friday claimed transport fares remained unchanged, while chicken prices eased back to pre-Middle East conflict levels following earlier volatility.

An NPMC meeting, chaired by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, however, did not provide a breakdown of transport fares, even though public transport has seen sharp increases on both intra-city and inter-city routes following the recent surge in petroleum prices.

Over the past month, provincial governments have intervened by extending subsidies to goods transporters, which may have helped contain freight charges. However, the official statement issued after the meeting did not specify any details on transport fares.

During the briefing, officials informed the meeting that transport fares had not increased, while chicken prices had returned to pre-conflict levels after earlier volatility linked to Gulf tensions.

Officials from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) briefed the committee on prevailing price trends and market conditions. The NPMC reviewed the trend in essential commodity prices and the impact of recent policy measures.

The minister expressed satisfaction that fertiliser prices had remained stable despite international pressures, calling it a positive development for the domestic market.

The minister further said that the provincial governments’ interventions were gradually helping to stabilise inflation, indicating an improving price environment across key sectors.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2026