ISLAMABAD- Economic Monitoring Committee Monday asked the Federal Agriculture Ministry to hold meeting with Rice Export Association of Pakistan and other stakeholders for procurement of basmati rice for export purpose. The Economy Monitoring Committee (EMC) met under the chair of Syed Naveed Qamar, Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue. The Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Livestock briefed the Committee regarding Trading Corporation of Pakistan's proposed procurement of basmati rice to stabilize prices. The Finance Minister directed the Agriculture Ministry to hold meetings with Rice Export Association of Pakistan (REAP) and other stakeholders along with Ministry of Commerce to bring appropriate proposals in the next meeting. The MINFAL told the EMC that rice prices in domestic market went down, and other food grain prices remained stable. The Chair advised the MINFAL to come up with comprehensive assessment of wheat demand and import needs in the next EMC meeting. The EMC allowed the MINFAL for sale of appropriate stocks of food grains available with PASSCO, as there was no additional demand from Utility Stores Corporation. The Ministry of Commerce also briefed the EMC on unloading and transportation of 1,50,000 tones of imported wheat, requesting the Committee to refer the matter to Economic Coordination Committee for decision on its transportation plan from Karachi or Gawadar up to north. Balochistan is demanding of the federal government to import wheat via Gawadar Port channel. The EMC directed the Ministry of Commerce to submit a comprehensive proposal to ECC for approval on issues of imported wheat's unloading at country's ports. The Monitoring Committee observed that the MINFAL should expedite efforts for purchase of urea from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, advising that necessary paper work related to Saudi facility be completed at the earliest. It was agreed that on the basis of forecasts for the months of November and December, the demand of urea in terms of domestic production and import is likely to go up. The EMC was briefed by MINFAL about future planning to overseas and regulate domestic urea production and import in a manner that domestic crop producers face no problems. The Finance Minister asked Special Committee on Natural Gas allocation and Management Policy to formulate a comprehensive forward-looking fuel policy in the next 3-4 weeks. The recommendations once finalized and approved by the EMC would be taken to ECC for the approval. The Finance Minister directed the MINFAL to ensure adequate supply of white wheat in NWFP and Balochistan, adding that MINFAL and Ministry of Industries should ensure availability of mixed flour at USC in other provinces. The MINFAL was further advised to complete its deliberations for import of white wheat from Canada on deferred payments.