ISLAMABAD: Minister for Industries and Production Ghulam Murtaza Khan Jatoi said Friday the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) was operating 5455 stores throughout the country, providing daily use commodities to masses at affordable level.
Answering a question in the Senate the minister said in Punjab there 2993 stores in Sindh 671 3, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 1312 4, Balochistan 294, AJK 80 and in Gilgit Baltistan 105 retail outlets.
He said out of 5455 stores, 4472 stores were regular stores of the Corporation being operated by Corporation itself and 983 were functioning as franchise stores.
He said the data relating to complaints of the stores was being maintained at regional level.
Answering another question, the minister said an Rs 4,246.21 million subsidy was provided to Utility Stores Corporation under Ramazan relief package during the last three years.
He added subsidy on sugar procured through Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP), Ministry of Commerce was discontinued in pursuance of ECC of the Cabinet's decision.
However, he said a quantity of 204,978 Metric Tonnes already procured by TCP for USC was provided from 2014 to May, 2016.
He said the government provided Rs 15, 965. 558, Rs 10,447.828 and Rs 1,433.675 million subsidy on sugar during in 2013, 2014, 2015, respectively.
He said the Ministry of Industries and Production was implementing 23 ongoing PSDP projects in various districts of all the provinces during current financial year.
He said the establishment of an Export Processing Zone (EPZ) at Gwadar was at preliminary planning stages. 1,000 acres of land had been leased by Government of Balochistan at Karwat Gwadar.
He said PC-II for appointment of consultant had been approved and EPZA had hired the services of M/s. Techno Consultant International for Planning, designing and preparation of PC-I for Gwadar EPZ.
He said out of the total portfolio, Ministry of Industries and Production was sponsoring 12 projects worth Rs. 5.740 billion and allocation of Rs. 313.893 Million during CFY 2015-16 for development of infrastructure and establishment/promotion of industries in less developed areas of Balochistan, KPK and Sindh.
While Minister for Planning, Development and Reform Ahsan Iqbal replying to a question relating to his ministry said at present there are a number of Chinese working on various projects in Pakistan.
However, in view of security considerations, he added it would be appropriate not to make the number public.
He said security of Chinese working in Pakistan on various projects lies with M/o Interior, being the focal agency responsible for security of the Chinese.
He said a Special Security Division (SSD) has been raised comprising 9,000 Army personnel and 6,000 civil armed forces, which would be deployed to ensure security of Chinese working on CPEC projects.
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