ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday vowed to give more subsidies to a huge network of Utility Store outlets in the country so that inflation-hit people could get some relief in getting essential items.

The PM announced this during his visit to a Utility Store outlet at G-9 Markez where he inspected essential items to ascertain their prices and quality. He expressed satisfaction over the sale of a 20kg bag of flour at Rs800 at the outlet, though its market price is ranging between Rs810 and Rs820. “A 20kg bag of Atta is available at Rs800 in the Utility Store and we will try to further reduce its price,” the prime minister said during his visit to the store.

He said the government’s relief package of Rs7 billion was aimed at providing basic food items and commodities to salaried and low and middle income groups at subsidised rates through 4,000 outlets of the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) across the country.

“The government would soon announce a ration card scheme as well for the poor people, who would be able to get Rs3,000 worth of basic commodities every month from Utility Stores,” he said.

Move to help inflation-hit people buy basic food items at cheaper rates

The prime minister said the relief package was not only aimed at ensuring the provision of basic commodities, including wheat flour, sugar, ghee, rice and pulses, to the low and middle income classes at cheaper rates, but also checking inflationary trends in the open market.

High prices of edible oil in the country were due to its higher rates in the international market, he said, adding that the government was, however, striving to enhance its local produce by encouraging the sunflower and canola growers.

“The government is also striving to boost the cultivation of pulses in the country to check $1.5 billion annual imports of pulses,” PM Khan added.

One of the main reasons behind inflation and high prices, he said, was the role of middlemen who were making profits at the cost of consumers and growers. The sale of basic commodities at USC outlets at cheaper rates would also help regulate prices in the open market.

Responding to a question by media persons, the prime minister said the government had provided Rs7bn for the relief package and, if required, more funds would be allocated to subsidise the basic commodities.

Again giving hope of better tomorrow to the people, he said: “After achieving economic stability in the year 2019, the government would now focus on job creation, industrialisation and economic growth in 2020.”

Earlier, Prime Minister Khan, accompanied by his Special Assistant on Information Dr Firdoua Ashiq Awan, took a round of the USC outlet and was briefed by USC chairman Zulqarnain Ali Khan and managing director Umar Lodhi on the relief package, stock position of essential commodities and their availability at USC outlets throughout the country, as well as the use of technology to ensure that the subsidy provided by the government reached the target population.

Published in Dawn, January 9th, 2020