Islamabad, 16 October, 2026 (Ghufran): Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Friday directed the relevant authorities to closely monitor the supply chains and prices of essential commodities to ensure their availability to domestic consumers at reasonable rates. He issued the directives while chairing a meeting of the Cabinet Committee to review the stock position, supply arrangements and prices of essential commodities. The meeting was informed that sufficient stocks were available to meet domestic demand and no shortages were anticipated, while prices were showing signs of stabilisation. Ishaq Dar instructed all concerned departments to ensure effective monitoring of supplies and commodity prices in accordance with the directives of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. He warned that strict action would be taken against hoarding, the creation of artificial shortages and overpricing of essential commodities. The meeting was attended by the ministers for national food security and research and climate change, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Bajwa, the secretary commerce, and senior representatives of relevant federal and provincial ministries and departments.