ISLAMABAD, June 19: Utility Stores Corporation (USC) and the capital administration would be providing sugar through 15 retail outlets designated as fair price shops in the city at Rs28.50 per kg, the corporation’s managing director, Brig (retired) Hafeez Ahmed, said on Monday.

Addressing a press conference at his office, Mr Ahmed said the USC would be providing sugar at these shops, selected by the capital administration, at Rs28 per kg. These shops would then sell the commodity at a profit of Rs0.50 per kg.

Sugar at the USC stores is being sold at Rs27.50 per kg. The monitoring of sale of sugar through these shops would be done through a magistrate.

Meanwhile, the USC has delinked the sale of sugar at its stores from the mandatory purchase of other products. However, restriction has been imposed on the purchase. A customer can buy a maximum of 4kg per visit.

The USC official said delinking of purchase of sugar from buying of other products had only been done to benefit the poor.

However, he admitted that the USC management was at loss to understand as to how it could stop the misuse of this facility. He hoped that the government would enhance the supply of sugar to the USC, which is currently 32,000 metric tons per month.

The USC would be expanding its network and would be opening 500 more stores. The new stores would be in the rural areas.

In the first phase 100 stores would be opened by end of next month. USC is currently operating through 500 regular stores and 450 mobile points plus some outlets in weekly bazaars.