Inflation-hit people were given another shock on Friday when the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet approved a rise of up to 20% in retail prices of general medicines and 14% for essential ones, prompting immediate criticism from drug manufacturers who said the increases were too small. Similarly, it allowed increase in the market retail price of all other drugs up to 20% on the basis of average CPI for the current year. Wheat procurementThe ECC fixed the wheat procurement target at 5 million metric tons for Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan for the new crop. The ECC fixed the 3.5 million metric tons wheat procurement target for Punjab for buying the commodity at Rs3,900 per 40kg. A finance ministry handout stated that the Ministry of Aviation submitted a summary on challenges and re-opening of Roosevelt Hotel, New York.
