ISLAMABAD: Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Shaukat Tarin has directed all the provinces to flood the markets with imported sugar to bring down the prices.

Presiding over the meeting of the National Price Monitoring Committee (NPMC), the adviser commended the efforts of the representatives of the Punjab government and the Islamabad administration and expressed concern over the significant price differential in the wheat flour prices in Sindh and Balochistan, compared with other provinces.

He advised the provincial chief secretaries of Sindh and Balochistan to increase the daily releases of wheat to improve the supply situation in the markets.

Tarin reiterated the firm commitment of the federal government to ensure smooth supply of wheat flour across the country at government specified rate.

Reviewing the sugar price in the country, the finance secretary said the prices are easing out in Punjab due to proactive measures of the government.

On the price trend of basic commodities, the adviser said the government has taken a range of administrative and policy measures and by managing supply and demand chain.

The meeting observed that Sastaa Sahulat Bazaars in Punjab are offering essential goods at subsidised rates. Tarin commended the efforts of the representatives of Punjab and Islamabad administration in providing key items at discounted prices through arranging Sastaa Bazaars.

The government will continue to take all possible measures to ensure smooth supply of essential commodities throughout the country, he added.

The finance secretary briefed the NPMC about the weekly Sensitive price Indicator (SPI) situation, which has increased 0.67 per cent during the week under review.

Reviewing the price trend of essential commodities, the secretary said prices of three essential commodities registered a decline, whereas prices of 20 items remained unchanged last week.

The meeting was also informed that the prices of wheat flour bags remained consistent at Rs1,100/20kg due to the proactive measures of the Punjab government and ICT administration.

Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Syed Fakhar Imam, Federal Minister for Industries and Production Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Commerce and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood, federal secretaries, provincial chief secretaries, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics chief statistician, FBR chairman, Utility Stores Corporation managing director and other senior officials participated in the meeting.