DPM Ishaq Dar mandates pricing surveillance in anticipation of Ramazan.

On Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar instructed authorities to oversee the prices of vital food items in anticipation of Ramazan, aiming to avert false price increases and protect customers from exploitation, according to his office.

The prices of vital food items escalate annually during the holy month due to vendors frequently engaging in hoarding and profiteering.

On Tuesday, Dar presided over a meeting to assess the availability and pricing of key items nationwide, according to his office.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister instructed federal and provincial authorities to maintain vigilant oversight, especially with the impending month of Ramadan, to avert any fake inflation or consumer exploitation by unscrupulous entities, according to a statement from Dar’s office.

The Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, a key moon sighting organization in Pakistan, ascertains the commencement of Ramadan. The Islamic month is anticipated to commence this year after mid-February, approximately on February 17 or 18.

The government of Pakistan has announced subsidies for the populace throughout the holy month to reduce the prices of vital food goods.

In 2024, the government led by Shehbaz Sharif announced a Ramazan package that included a subsidy of $26.8 million (Rs7.5 billion) to reduce the prices of necessary products for more than 30,960,000 families.