Failure to curb price hike: Kaira lashes out at provincial governments-Texglobe

Failure to curb price hike: Kaira lashes out at provincial governments

Updated: 2010-9-30 Source: Business Recorder

LAHORE (September 30 2010): Federal Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira on Wednesday lashed out at the provincial governments for their failure to control prices of food items despite excessive stocks of wheat, rice, pulses and sugar in the country. He was speaking at the annual function of All Pakistan Textile Processing Mills Association at a local hotel.

"Federal government has no role in controlling prices and it simply ensures stability on supply side," he said, adding: "It is duty of provincial governments and the media to check the activities of profiteers." He said the provincial governments have market control mechanism and any intervention from the federal government would draw criticism.

"No doubt the federal government is overall responsible for inflation but the provincial governments have direct control on prices," he said. According to Kaira, the number of PPP legislators in the Parliament was 128 and it was not a majority party. Therefore, he said it is a coalition setup where everyone is equally responsible. He said an end to inflation and unemployment was real challenge for the government.