FAO Delegation Visits Punjab’s Price Control Department

Fahad Shabbir (@FahadShabbir) Published July 16, 2025 | 06:10 PM

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 16th Jul, 2025) A four-member delegation from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), a subsidiary body of the United Nations, visited the Department of price Control and Commodities Management, here on Wednesday.

The delegation was briefed by PC&CM Secretary Dr Ehsan Bhutta on the department’s core functions, reforms, and integrated structure.

During the meeting, both sides agreed on the importance of aligning Punjab’s food security, quality control, and storage policies with international standards. The FAO representatives emphasized that farmers could benefit more from a free market system, as opposed to relying solely on government-fixed wheat support prices.

Secretary Dr Bhutta requested FAO’s technical assistance in developing a standardized system for grading fruits and vegetables in the province. He noted that adopting grading mechanisms for produce not only enhances quality but also increases profitability in both local and international markets.

He further highlighted that various institutions, including Food Security, Food Safety, Agriculture Marketing, Commodities Management, and the Consumer Protection Council, have been consolidated under a unified framework to improve coordination and service delivery. This transformation has evolved the Price Control and Commodities Management Department into a modern, integrated institution.

The FAO delegation lauded the Punjab government’s commitment to reforming its operations in line with global best practices.

The meeting was also attended by senior officials from allied departments, including the Additional Secretary (Admin), Director General PAMRA, representatives from the Food Directorate, and Engineering & Monitoring (E&M) divisions.