Finance Minister Calls for Strict Monitoring and Action Against Speculative Pricing to Curb Inflation
Islamabad: Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, has emphasized the need for strict monitoring of markets and effective measures against speculative pricing to curb artificial inflation. He stated that controlling inflation and ensuring price stability remain among the top priorities of the government to provide relief to low-income households and those affected by recent floods.
He made these remarks while chairing the second meeting of the Steering Committee on Inflation Trends in Islamabad.
The meeting was attended by senior officials from the Ministries of Finance, Energy, Petroleum, Planning, National Food Security, State Bank of Pakistan, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), and the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI).
According to the Ministry of Finance, the committee was formed under the Prime Minister’s directive to monitor inflationary pressures, ensure coordinated policy actions at federal and provincial levels, and facilitate timely administrative decisions.
The committee reviewed the entire food basket and discussed recent trends in the Sensitive Price Index (SPI). A detailed briefing was given on the prices, provincial-level supply, and stock status of essential commodities including tomatoes, onions, wheat, rice, sugar, and edible oil.
Officials informed the committee that sufficient wheat stocks are available (excluding strategic reserves), and preliminary assessments indicate that the damage to rice and sugarcane crops is manageable.
Minister Aurangzeb stressed the importance of cracking down on artificial price hikes and speculation in the market. He also reviewed preparations for the upcoming sowing season and underlined the timely availability of quality seeds and agricultural inputs.
The committee directed NDMA, SUPARCO, and PBS to work closely with provincial governments to carry out accurate and timely assessments of crop damage.
The Chair instructed that the committee reconvene next week to review progress and take further timely decisions to ensure price stability across the country.
