sharon sanders
Editor-in-Chief & President
<table><tbody><tr><td>
</td> </tr> <tr> <td> Jalilur Rehman Zaheer Shehzad
</td> </tr> <tr> <td> LAHORE: Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) on Tuesday set up a committee, headed by Finance Minister and representatives of provinces of Punjab, NWFP, Sindh and Balochistan, to overcome shortage of wheat.
The committee will also work out the disbursement of imported wheat of 2.5 million tonnes to ensure availability of atta at prices based on parity throughout the country. The ECC, which met here at the Governor House, was chaired by Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani. The meeting was also attended by Chief Minister and Governor Punjab.
Punjab Chief Minister assured ECC that Punjab will reach out to meet the food requirement of fellow citizens in NWFP, Balochistan and Sindh.
Governor State Bank apprised the meeting about the economic challenges facing the country and emphasised that the time has come to cut down over-spending by both at private and public sector.
The prime minister also constituted a committee consisting of Ministers for Law, Finance, Water and Power, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman and NEPRA Chairman to review the whole issue of KESC to improve its productivity and distribution for the benefits of the people in Karachi and surrounding areas. The ECC allowed the import of mineral oil free of custom duty and sales tax and further decided that FBR and Minfal will work out the modalities to prevent the use of imported material. The Minfal secretary pleaded the proposal in view of the fatal attack of white fly and Mealy Bug on the cotton crop.
The ECC approved fixation of CNG consumer prices by OGRA and readjustment of gas tariff for captive power producers from 68 percent to 31 percent. The ECC approved the summary of Ministry of Petroleum regarding the revised criteria of gas extension to new towns and villages falling within the vicinity of gas fields, like Punjab 13.5 kilometres, Sindh 13.5 km, NWFP 27 km, and Balochistan 67 km. The ECC approved that the loans given to the Heavy Electrical Complex (HEC) be converted into equity of the government in the same organisation. The meeting was informed that the overall CPI-based inflation registered an increase in the month of June 2008, the phenomenon is not peculiar to Pakistan as many other developing countries around the world are facing similar prices in recent months. The prices of pulses with the exception of 'Masoor' remained stable.
Meanwhile, as many as six Federal departments briefed Prime Minister about their working. PPP Punjab leaders also called on Gillani at Governor House and discussed with him party affairs and expansion of the federal and Punjab cabinet.
Govt urged to raise wheat price to Rs1000
Naveed Miraj
ISLAMABAD: The federal government has been urged to raise wheat support price from the current rate of Rs 625 to Rs1000 per 40 kg before the start of sowing season so that the farmers grow more wheat and wheat crisis could be avoided in future. Provincial food departments took the plea during a meeting of the Agricultural Policy Institute held here on Tuesday. The meeting was attended by the representatives of the food departments from the four provinces that discussed the future targets of various food items specially wheat. The meeting suggested the federal government to announce the increase in the support price well in time as last years' increase did not help much to increase the yield. Punjab and Sindh governments were of the view that increase as suggested in the support price would not only benefit the growers who would be encouraged to grow more wheat and earn good profit but would also help control smuggling to the neighbouring countries where the commodity is available on much higher prices than Pakistan. The meeting was informed that wheat is being smuggled to India and Afghanistan and smugglers are earning huge profits while the country is facing losses besides acute shortage of the commodity that is being produced here. Wheat is being sold at Rs 800 per 40 kg in India while in Afghanistan at Rs 1400 per 40 kg and hoarders have been successful to lift a big share of the production from the current crop and are busy in minting money through smuggling. The meeting also suggested the government to ensure provision of agricultural inputs particularly fertilizers on cheap rates and increase electricity supply for agriculture purpose that would help increase cultivated land for wheat in the next season besides improving the condition of the growers.
http://thepost.com.pk/MainNewsT.aspx?bdtl_id=11774&fb_id=2&catid=14
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ECC forms body to overcome wheat shortage
</td> </tr> <tr> <td> Okays CNG price fixation | SBP governor briefs PM about economic challenges | Inflation surged in June</td> </tr> <tr> <td> Jalilur Rehman Zaheer Shehzad
</td> </tr> <tr> <td> LAHORE: Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) on Tuesday set up a committee, headed by Finance Minister and representatives of provinces of Punjab, NWFP, Sindh and Balochistan, to overcome shortage of wheat.
The committee will also work out the disbursement of imported wheat of 2.5 million tonnes to ensure availability of atta at prices based on parity throughout the country. The ECC, which met here at the Governor House, was chaired by Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani. The meeting was also attended by Chief Minister and Governor Punjab.
Punjab Chief Minister assured ECC that Punjab will reach out to meet the food requirement of fellow citizens in NWFP, Balochistan and Sindh.
Governor State Bank apprised the meeting about the economic challenges facing the country and emphasised that the time has come to cut down over-spending by both at private and public sector.
The prime minister also constituted a committee consisting of Ministers for Law, Finance, Water and Power, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman and NEPRA Chairman to review the whole issue of KESC to improve its productivity and distribution for the benefits of the people in Karachi and surrounding areas. The ECC allowed the import of mineral oil free of custom duty and sales tax and further decided that FBR and Minfal will work out the modalities to prevent the use of imported material. The Minfal secretary pleaded the proposal in view of the fatal attack of white fly and Mealy Bug on the cotton crop.
The ECC approved fixation of CNG consumer prices by OGRA and readjustment of gas tariff for captive power producers from 68 percent to 31 percent. The ECC approved the summary of Ministry of Petroleum regarding the revised criteria of gas extension to new towns and villages falling within the vicinity of gas fields, like Punjab 13.5 kilometres, Sindh 13.5 km, NWFP 27 km, and Balochistan 67 km. The ECC approved that the loans given to the Heavy Electrical Complex (HEC) be converted into equity of the government in the same organisation. The meeting was informed that the overall CPI-based inflation registered an increase in the month of June 2008, the phenomenon is not peculiar to Pakistan as many other developing countries around the world are facing similar prices in recent months. The prices of pulses with the exception of 'Masoor' remained stable.
Meanwhile, as many as six Federal departments briefed Prime Minister about their working. PPP Punjab leaders also called on Gillani at Governor House and discussed with him party affairs and expansion of the federal and Punjab cabinet.
Govt urged to raise wheat price to Rs1000
Naveed Miraj
ISLAMABAD: The federal government has been urged to raise wheat support price from the current rate of Rs 625 to Rs1000 per 40 kg before the start of sowing season so that the farmers grow more wheat and wheat crisis could be avoided in future. Provincial food departments took the plea during a meeting of the Agricultural Policy Institute held here on Tuesday. The meeting was attended by the representatives of the food departments from the four provinces that discussed the future targets of various food items specially wheat. The meeting suggested the federal government to announce the increase in the support price well in time as last years' increase did not help much to increase the yield. Punjab and Sindh governments were of the view that increase as suggested in the support price would not only benefit the growers who would be encouraged to grow more wheat and earn good profit but would also help control smuggling to the neighbouring countries where the commodity is available on much higher prices than Pakistan. The meeting was informed that wheat is being smuggled to India and Afghanistan and smugglers are earning huge profits while the country is facing losses besides acute shortage of the commodity that is being produced here. Wheat is being sold at Rs 800 per 40 kg in India while in Afghanistan at Rs 1400 per 40 kg and hoarders have been successful to lift a big share of the production from the current crop and are busy in minting money through smuggling. The meeting also suggested the government to ensure provision of agricultural inputs particularly fertilizers on cheap rates and increase electricity supply for agriculture purpose that would help increase cultivated land for wheat in the next season besides improving the condition of the growers.
http://thepost.com.pk/MainNewsT.aspx?bdtl_id=11774&fb_id=2&catid=14
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