Competition Commission of Pakistan support sought to check anti-competitive practices.

Byline: Kalbe Ali

ISLAMABAD -- Taking serious note of rising prices of essential items in urban areas of the country, the National Price Monitoring Committee (NPMC) on Wednesday sought the support of Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) to check anti-competitive practices.

The committee also stressed the need of chalking out a comprehensive plan in collaboration with provinces to prevent risk of major and minor crop due to locust attack.

The observations were made during a meeting of the NPMC held at the Finance Division. The meeting, chaired by Finance Secretary Naveed Kamran Baloch, discussed the price trends of essential food items.

The meeting also discussed the outbreak of novel coronavirus and its impact on demand and supply of essential items. The spread of pandemic has compelled the governments to close/restrict borders. The meeting was informed that there is no impact of such closure on domestic prices of essential food items as their trade on these borders is negligible.

Baloch advised that all relevant authorities along with provincial governments should monitor the provision of essential food items at affordable prices. He also asked CCP to check anti-competitive practices and take prudent administrative measures in this regard.

The meeting was attended by the representatives of provincial governments, Islamabad Capital Territory, Ministries including Industries, Interior, Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, National Food Security and Research, Federal Board of Revenue, CCP and the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.

The meeting was informed that CPI based inflation...