The Economic Coordination Committee of the Cabinet has approved a Rs 1.733 billion Ramazan Relief Package to provide subsidy on 19 items through Utility Stores Corporation (USC). It has reportedly decided to provide subsidy on flour, sugar, cooking oil/ghee, grams, basen, dates, rice, squashes, milk and tea.
The government, however, is required to ensure that the USC outlets make all the subsidized items available for people to purchase. It is also required to ensure the availability of quality items. In the absence of the abovementioned requirements the very purpose of Rs 1.733 billion subsidy for Ramazan Package will stand defeated.