Frequent meetings of the procurement committee to approve essential goods highlight the government’s active approach to serving the needs of the public, Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed stated on Wednesday (11 December) following a meeting of the advisory council on procurement.
“We convene procurement committee meetings quite often to ensure swift approval of essential or urgent items. This demonstrates the government’s dynamism and its dedication to the convenience of the public,” Salehuddin Ahmed remarked, adding, “I have never seen such frequent meetings before; previously, delays were common.”
He further elaborated, “We expedite the process and approve the logical purchases required. Today, we approved the procurement of various types of fertilisers, LNG, lentils, and soybean oil.”
Commenting on market dynamics, the Economic Adviser acknowledged that it is impossible for the prices of all goods to decrease simultaneously. “One item’s price might fall while another’s might rise. That is the nature of the market,” he explained.
He emphasised that the government is working diligently to serve a busy populace, noting that while the international market is beyond its control, the measures taken by the government are beginning to show their impact. “The market is stable,” he asserted.
Salehuddin Ahmed also addressed challenges regarding potato prices, saying that these have now been resolved. The procurement meeting approved the purchase of oil, lentils, and LNG, which is expected to influence market conditions positively.
He concluded by highlighting the government’s efforts to maintain the affordability of goods within people’s purchasing power. “The interim government is striving to ensure that supplies of imported goods remain uninterrupted and prevent shortages. For this purpose, procurement meetings are held frequently.”
The meeting also covered the procurement of textbooks for the new academic year. The finance adviser confirmed that funds have been allocated for printing textbooks for classes nine and ten, with distribution scheduled for January. However, he noted that it would not be possible to deliver textbooks for all grades by January.
