10 February 2005	Thursday	30 Zilhaj 1425

KARACHI, FEB 9: The Utility Stores Corporation (USC) will get sugar from the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) in next two or three days.

TCP Chairman Syed Masood Alam Rizvi here on Wednesday said: "We have a stock of 377,000 tons of sugar and will supply whatever quantity the USC will need till the prices are stabilized in the market," he added.

He said the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet had asked the TCP to supply sugar to the USC for sale at reduced rates.

Mr Rizvi said the USC had 450 outlets all over the country, and they would sell the sugar in weekly bazaars and through mobile units to ensure provision of sugar at reasonable prices.

He pointed out that the TCP had sent the proposed selling price of sugar to the ministry of commerce for approval. The USC would be asked to lift sugar from the allocated sugar mills when the ministry replied, he added.

The TCP chief said the corporation would not float tender for sugar sale as only a couple of large parties would get its benefit. The USC would sell the sugar at a rate lower than market rates.

Answering a question, he said the TCP would not import sugar as the EEC had allowed only private sector to import refined as well as raw sugar duty-free to cater to domestic shortage.-APP