ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal has tasked authorities to prepare advance supply plans for essential commodities ahead of the holy month of Ramadan, state media reported on Wednesday.
Muslims abstain from food, drink and sins from dawn till sunset during the holy month of Ramadan, which is expected to begin from February next year.
Pakistanis suffer from artificial price hikes of food items every year during Ramadan as sellers hoard essential items for profiteering. Demand for essential food items surges in Ramadan, as people prepare traditional dishes to break the fast with the evening iftar meal.
“Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal has called for proactive planning ahead of Ramadan,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported.
The minister was chairing a meeting of the National Price Monitoring Committee in Islamabad on Tuesday, Radio Pakistan said.
Iqbal directed all departments to intensify measures for market stability, particularly by preparing advance supply plans for essential commodities required during Ramadan, to prevent price volatility.
The minister expressed concern over the recurrence of “preventable market disruptions” during predictable high-demand periods.
He underscored the need for “meticulous preparation” ahead of seasonal peaks, particularly Ramadan, when consumption patterns change significantly across the country, state media reported.
“Products that witness high demand during Ramadan must be identified well in advance, and their supply plans should be presented in the next meeting so that any potential gaps can be addressed,” Iqbal said.
He instructed provincial authorities and district administrations to enhance market monitoring by focusing particularly on narrowing the gap between wholesale and retail prices.
Iqbal stressed that excessive profiteering must be curbed to provide maximum relief to citizens already facing cost-of-living pressures.
