Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, on Saturday directed provincial governments to take swift action to curb inflation following a recent rise in fuel prices.
During an online meeting of the National Price Monitoring Committee (NPMC), the minister instructed provincial authorities to ensure transport departments issue revised fare notifications within 24 hours and enforce them strictly.
He stressed that government subsidies should not be undermined by arbitrary fare hikes imposed by transporters.
The meeting examined the effects of rising petroleum prices on transport fares and essential goods. Officials reported a significant increase in diesel prices, with transport fares in major cities rising on average 25–30%, and some routes seeing hikes up to 50%.
The federal minister instructed chief secretaries to hold provincial transport secretaries accountable for fare regulation and compliance. He also called for stronger field enforcement through random inspections and verification measures to prevent overcharging.
Highlighting the potential “second-round effect” of higher logistics costs on food prices, he ordered weekly monitoring of essential commodities. The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics was tasked with providing district-wise price rankings each week to identify abnormal trends, enabling timely corrective action by provincial administrations.
Market committees and district authorities were further directed to regulate wholesale and retail prices, monitor profit margins, and prevent hoarding and profiteering. Special emphasis was placed on ensuring an uninterrupted supply of perishable and staple items, including tomatoes, onions, potatoes, wheat, rice, and pulses.
Regarding subsidies, the minister stressed that their intended benefits must be reflected in market prices. “If subsidies are fully absorbed as price increases, their purpose becomes meaningless,” he noted.
The meeting also raised concerns over the domestic-international price gap for urea fertiliser, warning of potential smuggling risks. The minister instructed the Ministry of Interior and provincial authorities to take immediate action to prevent smuggling and ensure adequate availability for farmers.
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