Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal on Saturday instructed provincial governments to implement urgent measures to control inflationary pressures following a recent surge in fuel prices. During an online session of the National Price Monitoring Committee (NPMC), he emphasized the need for transport departments to issue updated fare notifications within 24 hours and ensure strict enforcement.
The minister stressed that government subsidies should not be undermined by arbitrary fare hikes imposed by transporters. The meeting examined the effects of rising petroleum costs on transportation fares and essential goods, revealing that diesel prices had risen sharply. Transport fares in major cities have increased by an average of 25–30%, with some routes experiencing hikes as high as 50%.
To address this, Ahsan Iqbal directed chief secretaries to hold provincial transport secretaries accountable for fare regulation and compliance. He also called for intensified field enforcement through random inspections and verification to prevent overcharging.
Highlighting the risk of a “second-round effect” on food prices due to increased logistics expenses, the minister ordered weekly monitoring of essential commodities. The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics was tasked with providing district-level price data weekly to detect abnormal trends, enabling provincial administrations to take timely corrective measures.
Further instructions were given to market committees and district administrations to regulate wholesale and retail prices and monitor profit margins to curb hoarding and profiteering. Special attention was directed toward ensuring a steady supply of perishable and staple items such as tomatoes, onions, potatoes, wheat, rice, and pulses.
Regarding government subsidies, the minister underscored that their benefits must be reflected in market prices. He noted that if subsidies are fully offset by price increases, their intended effect is nullified.
In a significant development, concerns were raised about the price gap of urea fertilizer between domestic and international markets, which could encourage smuggling. Ahsan Iqbal instructed the Ministry of Interior and provincial authorities to take immediate action to prevent smuggling and guarantee sufficient availability for farmers.
