Social Sciences And Technology Icbefst

 

Secretary Ministry of I&P briefed the meeting on the process for building strategic reserves of sugar in the country to maintain stability in prices. The items which contributed in decline included Petrol by -0.53%, Eggs by -0.11%, Tomatoes by -0.51% and others by 0.01%. Prices of 19 items slightly increased that led to increase in SPI by 1.20% which included Chicken by 0.34%, Fresh Milk by 0.25%, LPG by 0.23% and others by 0.38%. Mr. Shixin Chen appreciated and supported the efforts taken by the present government in social and economic sectors for improvement in the economy of Pakistan.

Business As Usual For Exports

NPMC was also apprised on the variations in the prices of Pulses and it was informed that except the prices of Moong Pulse, there was increase in the prices of other Pulses and it was mainly due to exchange rate variations and increase in freight charges. Finance Minister Mr. Shaukat Tarin supported the proposals for dairy development including investment and improvement in livestock and agriculture sector in Pakistan and assured them of full support of the present government. The meeting also discussed the prices of daily commodities available at the Utility Stores and directed USC to inform the masses on any variations in the prices and availability of commodities well in time. The meeting reviewed the progress on the ongoing World Bank’s projects and programmes in Pakistan. The meeting also focused on Resilient Institutions Strengthening Program (RISE-II) and discussed some prior actions to be met for the timely completion of the programme.

Financial Services For Small & Medium Enterprises

They will learn the concepts and processes needed to protect, validate and attest to the integrity and reliability of financial information. NPMC was informed that prices of 22 items remained stable whereas 22 items registered slight increase in prices which contributed increase in the SPI by 0.2%. It was informed that prices of perishable food items and Non-perishable food items have shown significant decline in their prices when reviewed Y-o-Y and M-o-M basis. He further highlighted that CPI inflation Year-on-Year basis is 12.3% in December 2021 as compared to 8.0% in December 2020.

The participants of the meeting assured the Finance Minister of their full cooperation and participation in making the program successful. Finance Minister Mr. Shaukat Tarin appreciated all the stakeholders for their contributions in the success of the Kamyab Pakistan Programme and said that Kamyab Pakistan Program is a milestone project, having exponential potential to transform the lives of the lower strata of the society. He further stressed the stakeholders to gear up the disbursement of interest free loans to help the people in achieving self-sufficiency. Over the last decade and more, significant effort has gone into harmonizing definitions and methodologies used to measure and track financial inclusion. Befiler recently won a grant for a digital experiment from Karandaaz Pakistan, a not-for-profit funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation . Befiler participated in the recent round of Karandaaz’s Digital Experiment Program, and won the grant through a competitive application process.

Country Director ADB, Mr. Yong Ye, Secretary Finance and senior officers participated in the meeting. The Finance Minister expressed resolve of the present government to uplift the living standard of the underprivileged people in the country especially focusing on socio economic development of the people of Baluchistan. NPMC was briefed on the availability of essential goods at subsided rates at the Sasta and Sahulat bazaar across the country. Of Punjab, KP, Balochistan and Islamabad administration in providing essential items at discounted rates at Sasta and Sahulat bazaars. He also expressed satisfaction on the contribution of Sindh government for providing essential items at discounted rates in Sahulat bazaars. NPMC was briefed on the rising prices of vegetable ghee in the country and informed that YOY prices of palm and soybean oil increased by 49.2% and 72.4% respectively in the global market.