SUKKUR, Aug 11: Parliamentary Secretary for Industries, Production and Special Initiatives, Syed Javed Ali Shah, said on Saturday that the government was looking into the causes of core food inflation to formulate a long term policy to keep their prices in check.

He said that in this regard, his ministry had already decided to constitute a ministerial committee on core food inflation and the Minister for Industries, Production and Special Initiatives, Jahangir Khan Tareen, would be its chairman and ministers for commerce, food and agriculture, advisor to the prime minister on finance and revenue, deputy chairman of Planning Commission, governor of the State Bank of Pakistan and economic advisor of Finance Division would be its members.

He said that the committee was tasked with determining the causes of price hikes of essential food items especially wheat, sugar and pulses in spite of good crops and recommend short term and long term economic or administrative measures to ensure adequate supply of essential food items to keep prices stable in the market.

The secretary said that the causes and dynamics of food inflation were deliberated in detail and different methods to control the prices were already discussed at a meeting a few days ago.

He suggested that the provinces should also be involved in such deliberations so that a comprehensive and effective policy could be devised.—APP