AVN 65.52 Decreased By ▼ -1.18 (-1.77%)
BAFL 29.72 Increased By ▲ 0.22 (0.75%)
BOP 4.05 Decreased By ▼ -0.03 (-0.74%)
CNERGY 3.57 Decreased By ▼ -0.05 (-1.38%)
DFML 11.56 Decreased By ▼ -0.24 (-2.03%)
DGKC 42.03 Decreased By ▼ -1.17 (-2.71%)
EPCL 45.66 Decreased By ▼ -0.33 (-0.72%)
FCCL 11.60 Decreased By ▼ -0.25 (-2.11%)
FFL 5.78 Decreased By ▼ -0.10 (-1.7%)
FLYNG 5.94 Decreased By ▼ -0.13 (-2.14%)
GGL 10.88 Decreased By ▼ -0.37 (-3.29%)
HUBC 67.40 Decreased By ▼ -0.48 (-0.71%)
HUMNL 5.59 Decreased By ▼ -0.05 (-0.89%)
KAPCO 24.38 Decreased By ▼ -0.47 (-1.89%)
KEL 2.11 Decreased By ▼ -0.02 (-0.94%)
LOTCHEM 24.92 Decreased By ▼ -0.08 (-0.32%)
MLCF 24.58 Decreased By ▼ -0.29 (-1.17%)
NETSOL 74.12 Decreased By ▼ -2.08 (-2.73%)
OGDC 84.67 Decreased By ▼ -1.19 (-1.39%)
PAEL 10.61 Decreased By ▼ -0.44 (-3.98%)
PIBTL 3.91 Decreased By ▼ -0.07 (-1.76%)
PPL 64.81 Decreased By ▼ -1.19 (-1.8%)
PRL 12.74 Decreased By ▼ -0.21 (-1.62%)
SILK 0.87 Decreased By ▼ -0.01 (-1.14%)
SNGP 39.41 Decreased By ▼ -1.34 (-3.29%)
TELE 7.06 Decreased By ▼ -0.42 (-5.61%)
TPLP 14.70 Decreased By ▼ -0.39 (-2.58%)
TRG 107.60 Decreased By ▼ -2.85 (-2.58%)
UNITY 13.37 Decreased By ▼ -0.14 (-1.04%)
WTL 1.20 Decreased By ▼ -0.01 (-0.83%)
BR100 4,040 Decreased By -40.6 (-0.99%)
BR30 14,413 Decreased By -217.8 (-1.49%)
KSE100 39,942 Decreased By -434.1 (-1.08%)
KSE30 14,739 Decreased By -177.2 (-1.19%)
Print

Utility Stores: Only Ehsaas beneficiaries may get targeted-subsidy

  • The government plans to link the national identity card/Ehsaas card of the beneficiaries with the Utility Stores
Published September 10, 2021
Follow us

Islamabad: The government has planned for making targeted subsidy at the Utility Stores only to the Ehsaas beneficiaries by linking their cards/national identity cards with the sales points.

This was revealed by senior officials of the Ministry of Industries and Production and the Utility Stores Corporation (USC), while briefing the Senate Standing Committee, here on Thursday, where strong reservations were shown on selling of sub-standard items.

The Senate Standing Committee on Industries and Production met with Syed Faisal Ali Subzwari in the chair, here on Thursday, where a detailed briefing was given on the functions and performance of the USC.

The committee was also informed that the government is planning to link the national identity card/Ehsaas card of the beneficiaries with the Utility Stores, which would only allow them to get subsidised items.

The main objective is to make the government subsidy more targeted.

Regarding subsidies, the committee stressed the need for benefits to trickle down to the neediest. It recommended franchising.

Ehsaas completes IT integration with Utility Stores Corporation

The ministry informed the committee that the government plans to make these stores into a targeted-subsidy tool.

Reviewing the performance of the Utility Stores, the committee was of the view that stringent measures must be taken to curb pilferage, theft, and other irregularities. It recommended that these stores must resort to the ERP system, which will keep logistics in check.

The committee was informed that there are around 4,500 stores covering only four percent of the population across the country.

Total sales at Utility Stores remained Rs114 billion with net profit of only Rs0.7 billion.

The USC will focus in 2021-22 on point of sale implementation for targeted subsidy, revamped policies and procedures in line with best practices, automation of supply chain, finance, HR and admin, shifting from small stores to large stores for better services to customers and centralisation to achieve better control on business decisions and cost.

Taha Aziz joins Utility Stores Corporation as MD

It informed the committee that 90 stores were running in loss due to providing facilities to residents in far-flung areas that have no resort to the outside world. To control losses, the government plans to cross-subsidise goods.

The committee was informed that 50+ units were operating in the FATA and the PATA.

The committee, on request of the ministry, agreed to take up the issue after 90 days on completion of the computerisation and bar-coding exercise, crucial for the progress of the organisation.

Members, who attended were senators Falak Naz, Fida Muhammad, Faisal Saleem Rehman, Muhammad Abdul Qadir, Saifullah Sarwar Khan Nyazee, Hidayat Ullah, and Imamuddin Shouqeen, besides senior government officers.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2021

Comments

Comments are closed.

Utility Stores: Only Ehsaas beneficiaries may get targeted-subsidy

Policy efforts, 9th review’s success: Timely external aid will be critical: IMF

Forex reserves cross $10bn mark

SPI inflation up 1.80pc WoW

Alvi expresses his disquiet at election delay

Cash margin requirement on goods import removed

CDWP approves six projects worth Rs21.28bn

LHC extends IK’s protective bail in 5 cases till 27th

Non-residents: REIT RMCs allowed to issue units thru private placements

SJC initiates probe process against Justice Naqvi

AGP Ata Elahi tenders resignation