No more price hike, PM tells economic team
Says no further increase in power tariff, prices of petroleum products and food items
February 20, 2020 11:24 PM
The unprecedented price hike in the country came under discussion at a meeting of the federal cabinet in Islamabad on Thursday.
According to the sources, Prime Minister Imran Khan told his financial team that there would be no increase in the prices of electricity, petroleum products and food items now onwards. On this occasion, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) presented its report on the flour crisis to the federal cabinet. Later, the prime minister assigned investigation into the sugar crisis to the FIA. He said the FIA should fix responsibility for the sugar crisis and submit its report within two weeks.
Later, the government’s policy on pilgrims came under discussion at the cabinet meeting. The prime minister formed a five-member committee to address issues involving pilgrims. Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Pir Noor-ul-Haq Qadri will head the committee consisting of Ali Zaidi, Shireen Mazari, Ali Muhammad Khan and Nadeem Afzal Chan as members. The committee will prepare its recommendations on issues relating to pilgrims and submit these recommendations to the next meeting of the cabinet. The policy is likely to be approved at the next cabinet meeting.
Taking up the next issue for discussion, the cabinet once again deferred its decision on import of pesticides. Also, the cabinet approved appointment of Sadia Khan as new head of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP). Moreover, the cabinet endorsed decisions of the Economic Coordination Committee. In another development, the cabinet deferred its decision on the Pakistan National Education Plan.
This news is based on Awais Kiani’s report.