Islamabad, July 25 -- The federal government has taken serious notice of overpricing in the edible oil and ghee market, where consumers are reportedly being charged Rs150 to Rs175 extra per kilo-despite a sharp decline in global prices.

International prices of cooking oil and ghee have dropped by up to 25% in recent months. However, this decrease has not been reflected in Pakistan's retail prices. Instead, local producers have continued to raise rates, putting further financial pressure on consumers already struggling with inflation.

The issue was raised during a recent meeting of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC). Officials expressed concern over the lack of price adjustment and discussed possible price manipulation by industry...