ISLAMABAD: The government has announced Rs. 1.3 billion Ramzan Relief Package in order to provide quality essential commodities on subsidized rates during Ramazan.
It is aimed at ensuring relief to people who will get these items on lower rates in holy mont as compared to the open market.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday, Minister for Industries and Production, Ghulam Murtaza Jatoi said that under the package 18 daily used items would be provided on subsidized
rates through Utility Stores Corporation (USC) network across the country.
The USC, he said would also provide more than 1000 quality items on 5-10 percent discount rates as compared to retail market prices during the holy month for the relief of the masses, specially the poor segment of the society.
The Minister recalled that Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif had initiated the Ramzan Package during 1991 and after that all governments had followed it.
This time despite financial constraints, the government has announced relief package for people, he added.
He said that daily used items including Atta (flour) would be available Rs 4 per kg cheaper as compared to open market besides Ghee by Rs. 20-60 per kg, Baisen by Rs. 14-24 per kg, Basmati rice by Rs. 16-41 per kg, sugar by Rs. 5 per kg and dates by Rs. 30-50 per kg, will be cheaper than the open market.
The other commodities which would be available at controlled rates as compared to open market included Moong, Channa, Masoor and Mash and would be available cheaper by Rs. 10-15 per kg respectively.
He added that the retail price of white gram is at Rs.100 per kg while the same commodity would be available at USC for Rs.85 thus saving Rs. 15 per kg of the customers.
Besides the government subsidy of these commodities the USC has also reduced its profit ratio to further facilitate the people and providing maximum relief during the holy month of Ramazan.
Murtaza Jatoi said that about 13,000 employees of USC were working for facilitating the masses across the country, adding that 3000 more workers were hired for Ramazan to provide services for the people in the country.
The annual sale of the USC has crossed Rs. 80 billion mark and it is expected that sales of corporation would reach Rs. 20 billion during holey month, he added.
He said that provincial government has also established Ramazan Bazaars in order to provide essential commodities at controlled rates adding that USC has also established its stalls at these Bazaars to facilitate the masses.
To ensure smooth supply of these items, he said that inspection teams were also formed which would monitor the supply on daily basis besides a complaint cell has also been established to address the complaints of consumers.
He said that these special teams would monitor the quality and quantity of all products in Ramazan Bazaars besides all provincial secretaries and governments of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Giltit Baltistan had been directed to ensure the official fixed rates during the months of Ramazan.
To a question, he said that about 6, 000 USC outlets were operating across the country including 3000 in Punjab, 700 in Sindh, 1,300 in Khabar Pakhtunkhwa, 125 in Gilgit Baltistan and 98 in AJK.
He said that to ensure smooth supply separate warehouses has also been established and it has been decided that supply would be made twice in week for keeping it at normal level.
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