ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Monday directed the concerned authorities to ensure uninterrupted availability of food items across the country and to take action against hoarders.
The Prime Minister presided over a meeting on ensuring availability of essential commodities and stability in their prices. Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Food Security Minister Tariq Bashir Cheema, Chief Secretaries of all four provinces, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan and Chief Commissioner Islamabad also participated in the meeting.
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif directed the formation of special committees to enhance the supply chain and monitor the prices of essential commodities. He said that there is no shortage of essential commodities including wheat in the country.
The Prime Minister directed the provinces and administrative units to propose a concrete plan in the next review meeting regarding the supply of commodities at affordable prices during the holy month of Ramadan. He said that the administration should use technology to guarantee price stability in Ramadan bazaars.
The officials concerned told the audience that there is no dearth of food items like wheat, pulses, edible oil and others in the country.
All possible support to Turkey
Earlier, the Prime Minister visited the Turkish Embassy and said that Pakistan will leave no stone unturned in assisting its Turkish brothers in the process of relief and rehabilitation.
Speaking to the Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan during his visit to the embassy, the prime minister expressed his solidarity with the Turkish brothers and expressed his deepest condolences to the families of the earthquake victims, Radio Pakistan reported.
Assuring all support to Ankara, he said that “the government and people of Pakistan stand with Turkey in this hour of sorrow”.
The Prime Minister said that more medical and rescue teams will be sent to Turkey in the coming days along with essential relief items including tents, blankets and warm clothes.
He emphasized the need to create a mechanism for the supply of essential commodities. Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif appreciated Turkey’s help in the 2005 earthquake and recent floods in Pakistan.
