ISLAMABAD:Prices of 1,000 essential commodities commodities including sugar, rice and pulses decreased at Utility Stores from Wednesday (today) after Prime Minister Imran Khan’s formal approval of a Rs7 billion relief package.
The cut in prices of commodities comes after the government has given a package of Rs7 billion to Utility Stores Corporation (USC) of Pakistan to ensure the provision of daily items to people at reasonable rates.
Sugar, which was available at retail price of Rs75 per kg, will be sold at Rs68 per kg at Utility Stores.
Overall, a 5 to 10 per cent special discount has been given on more than a 1,000 items and the price cuts will range between Rs7 and Rs40.
The prices of ghee and edible oil have been reduced by Rs30 to Rs40 per kg. Ghee will be sold at Rs170 per kg. The rates of pulses and rice price have been reduced by Rs20 to Rs31.:
Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan while giving a media briefing the other day said that the PTI government was committed to providing relief to the downtrodden and poor segments of society under the vision of Imran Khan.
Speaking on the occasion, USC Chairman Zulqarnain Ali Khan said flour, sugar, ghee, rice and pulses would be available to people at reduced rates under the new package.
He said the restructuring of USC was being done on modern lines but “no employee has been fired from the job.” He held that the present wave of inflation was linked with high prices of commodities in the international oil market.
He said, “The government will soon introduce a ration card scheme in which USC outlets will play a key role.” The corporation aims to enhance its network from existing 4,000 stores to 10,000, he added.
