Islamabad:Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Saturday directed federal and provincial governments to take all necessary measures, including increasing wheat supplies, to stabilise prices amid a rising trend in the domestic market.

Chairing a high-level meeting of the Cabinet Committee on essential commodities, Dar reviewed national stocks, procurement arrangements, domestic consumption and price trends.

The meeting was informed that domestic stocks of essential commodities remained adequate. Wheat stocks, including imported supplies, were sufficient to meet requirements until the next harvest.

The committee was also briefed that sugar prices remained below the targeted retail price of Rs155 per kilogram, with surplus stocks available until the next crushing season.

Dar stressed that ensuring national food security and the availability of essential commodities at reasonable prices remained a government priority.

He directed federal and provincial authorities to closely monitor markets and maintain zero tolerance for hoarding and market speculation.

The meeting was attended by the Minister for National Food Security and Research and Climate Change, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Bajwa, secretaries of relevant ministries, provincial chief secretaries and senior federal and provincial officials.