USC to procure 53,333 tonnes of wheat flour, NA body told

Published January 21, 2020
A labourer grinds wheat into flour at a market in Rawalpindi on January 20, 2020. — AFP
A labourer grinds wheat into flour at a market in Rawalpindi on January 20, 2020. — AFP

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Industries and Production was informed on Monday that the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) was in the process of procuring 53,333 tonnes of wheat flour which would be sold at subsidised rates.

However, the committee was informed by USC Managing Director Umer Lodhi that currently 1,103 tonnes of wheat flour was available with the corporation. He said 200,000 tonnes of wheat was provided to the USC by the government and after grinding it, flour had been distributed to all USC outlets.

The chairman of the NA committee, Sajid Hussain Turi, inquired about the price difference between the commodities, mainly wheat flour, being sold at USC outlets and the open market.

Mr Lodhi informed the committee that wheat flour was cheaper by Rs5-10 per kilogram at USC outlets and after the recent release of Rs6 billion subsidy, the price had been streamlined at Rs40 per kilogram. He said that the subsidy amount had been released to USC outlets.

The members of the committee expressed concern over the shortage of wheat flour in the country.

Managing director says there is no shortage of commodity at utility stores

The USC managing director said there was no shortage of wheat flour at USC outlets, but there were reports of haste buying which was aggravating the situation in some areas.

The committee was also informed about the situation of sugar’s stock at USC outlets which was being sold at Rs75 per kilogram. The open market rate of sugar is around Rs80 at retail end, whereas it is less at large cash and carry stores.

The financial management of the USC was also discussed in the meeting. Mr Lodhi informed the committee that around 50 per cent pending liabilities to contractors had been released and the remaining amount would be released over the next six months. The USC had huge pending liabilities of Rs8.3bn, which have now been reduced to Rs3.9bn.

Safety mechanism

The committee also inquired about safety measures in locally manufactured and assembled vehicles. It was informed that there was no mechanism of safety and standard for vehicles in the country.

Officials of the Ministry of Indus­tries and Production informed committee that it was not its mandate to ensure standard and quality of locally assembled cars and other vehicles, but it was the direct responsibility of its attached department, the Engineering Development Board (EDB).

Industries Secretary Afzal Latif said that currently there was no Pakistani standard for quality of vehicles and their parts. He also said that currently there was no mechanism to check the standard of vehicles or their parts in the country.

He added that the standard development and enforcement was the mandate of the Pakistan Standard Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) which was an attached department of the Ministry of Science and Technology. But an official of the EDB present in the committee said that standard for the auto sector was neither the mandate of the PSQCA nor any other government department.

Published in Dawn, January 21st, 2020

Follow Dawn Business on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook for insights on business, finance and tech from Pakistan and across the world.

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.