An Empowered Group of Ministers on Food has decided to ban the export of pulses till further orders. Speaking to reporters after the meeting of the EGoM, the Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Mr. Sharad Pawar said that five million tonnes of wheat and rice will be released for PDS. He added that stockholding on sugar will continue. The meeting was presided over by the finance Minister Mr. Pranab Mukherjee. The meeting was held in the backdrop of high prices of vegetables, especially onion, tomato and garlic. Earlier in the day, Cabinet Secretariat also reviewed prices of essential commodities with secretaries of key ministries, including agriculture and consumer affairs.