The authorities recovered as much as 16,000 tons of sugar and wheat from the hoarders during a crackdown based on a tip-off by the Corona Relief Tiger Force of Prime Minister Imran Khan. The raid was carried out by the Punjab government on orders from PM Imran against the hoarders, according to a report.
The Tiger Force had reportedly provided special information about the hoarders, after which stocked-up sugar and wheat worth Rs1.1 billion was seized. Similarly, approximately 716 tons of maize, 2,000 tons of rice, 10,000 kilograms of unhealthy meat and 800,000 liters of milk were also retrieved and later wasted.
In this respect, PM Imran has directed that the recovered sugar, wheat, and rice be sold on the market at government-set rates. In advising the Punjab government to stabilize wheat prices, the Premier directed to reduce the price of a 20 kg bag of a meal by Rs150 and to take emergency measures to control meal prices.
PM channels a coordinated strategy
Meanwhile, PM Imran Monday directed all provincial chief secretaries to formulate a well-coordinated strategy for equal pricing of wheat and flour in all provinces under the Ministry of National Food Security, in addition to ensuring sufficient stockpiling of these commodities in respect of any province’s requirement.
In a press release, PM Office media arm said he guided this while chairing a meeting to examine steps to bring down the prices of basic commodities. The Prime Minister stated that policy would concentrate on farmers and common man because in the past, the factors involved in hosting and excessive gains not only robbed farmers of their only income but also compelled average citizens to buy flour at exorbitant rates.
National Food Security Minister Syed Fakhar Imam, Finance Adviser Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, Commerce Advisor Abdul Razak Dawood, Special Assistant to Prime Minister Dr. Shahbaz Gill and senior officials attended the meeting. The meeting was attended by Chief Secretaries of Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Additional Secretary via video connection.
The Prime Minister directed that there should be no impediments to inter-provincial wheat transport as the provision and availability of regular and low-price wheat was the priority of his government.