Govt moves to check rising prices of essential commodities, wheat flour

ISLAMABAD  –  Alarmed by a fresh surge in prices of essential commodities, particularly wheat flour, the federal minister for planning has ordered provincial and district administrations to tighten market monitoring to curb hoarding, profiteering and unjustified price hikes. Separately, taking notice of the wide gap between the notified and prevailing market prices of LPG, the minister directed OGRA to take effective measures to ensure the official rate is enforced.

Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal issued these directive while chairing a meeting of the National Price Monitoring Committee (NPMC) here on Wednesday. The meeting reviewed the monthly and weekly inflation situation, wholesale-retail price gaps, prices of essential commodities and implementation of previous decisions.

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The meeting was informed that CPI inflation stood at 10.3% year-on-year in September 2026, compared to 11.1% in August, while average inflation during July-September FY2026-27 stood at 10.2%. WPI inflation increased to 13.3% year-on-year, while weekly SPI for the week ended October 1 recorded an 11.53% year-on-year increase. Major annual increases were recorded in onions, LPG, electricity, diesel, petrol and wheat flour, while chicken, garlic, gram pulse and LPG recorded notable weekly increases.

Ahsan Iqbal directed the authorities concerned to compare current transport fares with fares prevailing after the previous fuel price increase to determine whether the increase in fuel prices had resulted in any disproportionate rise in fares. He also directed the Ministry of National Food Security and Research to examine why DAP prices remained high in Pakistan despite a decline in international prices, stressing that the benefit of lower international prices should be reflected in the domestic market.

The minister directed that the inspection and quality assessment report regarding ghee, edible oil and milk products be submitted within one week. He said that if the industry had proposed third-party validation, its cost should be borne by the industry and not the government.

He directed provincial governments to closely monitor wholesale and retail prices and take enforcement action where unjustified gaps existed, particularly in major markets including Lahore and Karachi. He also called for close monitoring of supply chains and distribution costs to prevent disproportionate pass-through of fuel price increases to essential food prices.

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Ahsan Iqbal further directed authorities to strengthen measures against hoarding, profiteering and overcharging and ensure uninterrupted supplies of essential commodities, particularly wheat flour, onions and other perishables.

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