The National Price Monitoring Committee (NPMC) met on Tuesday to examine current market trends closely. They focused particularly on the rising prices of poultry products.
Actions and Observations
The NPMC instructed the Ministry of National Food Security to collaborate with the Pakistan Poultry Association. Their goal is to understand and address the ongoing price increases of poultry products. Recently, the cost of chicken broilers and eggs has notably surged. Live chicken prices rose to Rs440 per kg, up from Rs409. Egg prices climbed to Rs440 per dozen, previously at Rs390. These changes indicate a major shift in the poultry market.
After the meeting, an official statement was released. It mentioned the minister’s directive to provincial governments. They must ensure the availability of essential items, especially during Ramazan. They will also report on the supply and demand of specific commodities in the next meeting.
Dr. Naeem Uz Zafar, Chief Statistician of the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, presented a price overview. He highlighted a significant increase in the Sensitive Price Index (SPI), driven mainly by perishable items like tomatoes, onions, and poultry products.
During this period, prices of 21 items rose, 8 decreased, and 22 remained stable. The minister inquired about steps provinces took to reduce the gap between wholesale and retail prices. Representatives from the Food and Industries Departments of Punjab, Sindh, and KP reported strict price monitoring measures.
Despite challenges like extreme weather impacting perishable items, climate change considerations have become more pressing. Punjab’s administration is working to control prices through deputy commissioners.
Finally, the minister asked the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics to detail how provincial and district authorities actively use the Decision Support System on Inflation (DSSI) to monitor prices and combat profiteering and hoarding.
