June 04, 2007	Monday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 18, 1428

ISLAMABAD, June 3: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Sunday said the government had taken adequate measures to ensure sufficient supply of all essential items at reduced prices to consumers through utility stores as well as in the open market.

He was talking to customers and reporters after his surprise visit to the utility stores in I-10 sector.

The prime minister said the main aim of utility stores was to provide essential items of daily use to people at relatively low rates compared to the open market.

He said sugar was being provided at Rs26 per kg, ghee at Rs67 per kg, flour at Rs13 per kg and similarly all other items were being sold at reduced rates at the utility stores.

Minister for Information Mohammad Ali Durrani, Minister of State for Finance Omer Ayub Khan and Special Assistant to Prime Minister Khalilur Rehman also accompanied the prime minister during the surprise visit.

Mr Aziz said 560 utility stores in the country had been providing essential items at reduced rates and people were benefiting from the measures taken by the government in this regard.

Referring to the prices of flour, the prime minister said the government by imposing ban on the export of wheat had ensured smooth and continuous supply of the commodity in the market.

Regarding action against hoarders, the prime minister said with the availability of essential items at reduced prices at the utility stores, the hoarders would be forced to reduce their prices in the open market too.—APP