ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Industries and Production Ghulam Murtaza Jatoi on Monday announced Ramazan Relief Package offering Rs1.6 billion subsidy on 19 key Utility Stores commodities across the country.

Addressing a press conference at his ministry, the minister said the relief on these items would be available from Monday.

Flanked by Managing Director Utility Stores Corporation (USC) Waseem Mukhtar, the minister said sugar, wheat flour, pulses, gram flour, dates, rice, tea, beverages and tetra pack milk were included in 19 subsidised product.

He said the USC was already providing 10 to 15pc relief on 2,400 products.

The minister acknowledged that the market forces increased the prices of essential commodities ahead of Ramazan, and the government was unable to do anything over it.

“Therefore, the PML-N government decided in 1991 to provide relief to the public through the Utility Stores,” the minister said.

The subsidy on ghee and cooking oil will be Rs15 per kg / liter, gram flour Rs15 per kg, white gram Rs15 kg, dates Rs20 per kg, gram pulse (dall channa) Rs15 per kg, moong (dall moong) washed Rs10 per kg, pulse masoor Rs10 per kg, rice basmati Rs10 per kg, parboil rice Rs10 per kg etc.

The USC has consulted Finance Ministry over Ramazan package involving subsidy of Rs1.55 billion and it has been decided that half of the amount will be paid in advance while the rest after Ramazan, upon submission of bills by the USC.

Responding to queries, the minister acknowledged that there were complaints regarding the quality and packing of products being sold at the utility stores.

“USC has now shifted 80pc items to branded products to ensure quality of products, while the rest would also be shifted to branded products gradually to ensure quality,” he said.

To another question Mr Jatoi said that he supported political endeavor of the prime minister but blamed the bureaucracy for creating problems for him in executing his responsibilities.

Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2017