ISLAMABAD, Nov 1: The Senate standing committee on industries and production has directed the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) to ensure supply of quality items at reasonable rates with a view to providing relief to the masses.

The committee, which met here on Monday under the chairmanship of Senator Mohammad Akram, appreciated the performance of the USC, but suggested that more utility stores should be established in both rural and urban areas.

On the occasion, the USC director gave a briefing on the steps being taken by the corporation to ensure accurate supply and reasonable prices of essential consumers items.

He told the committee that the USC had reduced the prices of a number of essential items during Ramazan, leaving an example for the traders to follow. He said mobile stores had also been functioning to ensure availability of daily-use items at all places.

Discussing the issue of prompt delivery of cars to customers, the committee underlined the need for streamling the system with a view to make the process transparent and to ensure prompt delivery of cars by the local assemblers.

The committee was informed that Pakistan's automobile industry was developing fast and it had experienced rapid expansion during the last few years. The production volume of locally-manufactured cars rose to 99,000 this year compared to 63,000 during the last financial year.