June 11, 2006	Sunday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 14, 1427

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PESHAWAR, June 10: People in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas are not likely to benefit from the federal government’s multi-billion rupees relief package meant to provide three edible items at subsidised rates across the country.

Utility Stores Corporation Regional Director Jehanzeb Khan said here on Saturday that the corporation did not have any network in the tribal areas, therefore its people would not benefit from the relief package.

He said that the corporation had planned to open utility stores in some main towns in Fata in early 1990s, but it did not work due to which the stores were closed down.

He said the government had no plans to open utility stores in the tribal areas.

The federal government had announced a subsidy of Rs12 billion on sugar, wheat and pulses for consumers. Sugar would be sold at all utility stores at Rs27.50 per kilogram.

However, about 40 million consumers in the seven agencies and six Frontier Regions (FRs) were buying sugar at Rs38 per kg and pulses at Rs75 per kg.

The corporation has 122 stores in the NWFP which, officials said, were not sufficient to cater to the needs of the entire population of the province.

Due to rush on utility stores, they said, the corporation would launch mobile units to meet the consumer requirements.