Shaukat Tarin wants export strategy for surplus potato

As the country is all-set to harvest a record potato crop, Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin on Wednesday directed the Ministry of National Food Security and Research to come up with a strategy to export the surplus to ensure farmers get a fair price for their produce. Chairing the National Price Monitoring Comm­ittee (NPMC) meeting, Mr Tarin also directed setting up of a production forecasting unit for major and minor crops for timely decision-making to ensure price stability. The NPMC also discussed the stock position of petroleum products and expressed serious concerns about the low stocks of high-speed diesel and directed the Petroleum Division to take cognisance of the issue and ensure the smooth availability of these products. The meeting also reviewed the wheat stock position and took note of slow wheat releases to millers by the Balochistan government, the minister directed all provincial governments to increase daily wheat releases to bring stability in the flour prices.