ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb chaired a high-level steering committee meeting in Islamabad to review inflation and food security challenges. Senior officials from the Ministry of Finance, Energy, Petroleum, and the State Bank of Pakistan also attended the session.
The committee meeting assessed the prices of essential food items, including wheat, rice, and sugar. Officials discussed the recent impact of floods, which have worsened difficulties for low-income families and vulnerable communities.
The Ministry of Finance emphasized the need for immediate checks on food reserves and directed real-time monitoring of commodity prices. The meeting agreed to strengthen coordination between federal agencies and provincial governments to manage supply chains and stabilize markets.
Focus on Flood Impact
A key part of the committee meeting focused on how recent floods have affected households already facing economic pressure. Participants stressed the importance of providing urgent relief to families hit hardest by natural disasters.
The steering committee also highlighted measures to curb price hikes and improve the distribution of food supplies across the country. The government pledged to protect vulnerable groups and ensure that inflation does not further harm their living standards.
Coordination With Provinces
This was the first formal session since the Prime Minister formed the committee. After consultations with relevant departments, its recommendations will be submitted to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for approval.
Earlier, the Prime Minister held a separate meeting to review flood damage and relief operations. He reiterated that the rehabilitation of victims remains a top federal priority. Shehbaz Sharif directed officials to monitor evacuation and relief work in real time, particularly in flood-hit southern regions near the Ravi, Sutlej, and Chenab rivers.
The government assured that efforts to stabilize food prices and support flood victims would move forward with urgency and transparency.
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