Islamabad : Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin has said that Government is fully cognizant of its responsibility regarding provision of essential items at affordable prices across the board and is taking effective measures in this regard.

Presiding over the meeting of a National Price Monitoring Committee in Islamabad, the Finance Minister said the Government has taken all out measures to provide essential items through a network of Sahulat/Saasta Baazars, given hefty subsidies through chain of Utility Stores outlets and is taking strict administrative measures to keep prices of basic items in check.

The meeting was informed that the weekly SPI increased by 0.28 percent for the week ended on 17th June, 2021 and Prices of 09 items declined, 21 items slightly increased and 21 items remained stable.

The Finance minister directed the provincial governments for strict monitoring of prices toto provide relief to common man.

He also directed Ministry of Industries and Production to hold a meeting with ghee/edible oil manufacturers in order to transmit the declining trend of international oil prices to the local consumers.