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ISLAMABAD, Dec 31: Utility Stores Corporation (USC) on Saturday announced 3-10 per cent discount on prices of different daily use items for Eidul Azha.
Speaking at a press conference here USC Managing Director Brig (retd) Hafeez Ahmed said the discounts could be availed by the customers at the USC outlets from January 3 to 25.
Some 300 items such as rice, pulses, cooking oil, ghee, spices would be available on discounted prices during this period.
No subsidy is being given by the government for this reduction in prices, the USC chief said and added that his corporation was able to offer these discounts by cutting on its profits and getting concessions from the suppliers.
Brig Ahmed said the discounts were being offered in view of the falling purchasing power of the customers and steep increase in the prices of the utilities.
He felt that the discounts would help the poor to celebrate the Eid festivities by easing their financial difficulties. The utility stores are already providing discounts on sugar being sold at Rs23 per kilograms and flour at Rs11.50.
These two items have been in great demand and the stores have sold 100,000 tons sugar and 140,000 tons flour during the past few months.
The USC chief, however, warned against using these stores only for the purchase of sugar. “I don’t want people to use these stores as ration depots for sugar,” he added.
USC has a monthly turnover of Rs1 billion and earned Rs100 million profit during 2004-05.
QUAKE OPERATION: The USC has opened 35 outlets in the affected areas — 20 in NWFP and 15 in AJK. More outlets are planned.
Replying to a question, Brig Ahmed said, USC was considering the proposal of selling CGI sheets at the outlets in the affected areas on government controlled rates to help the victims in the reconstruction process.
He said food items worth Rs400 million were distributed among the October 8 quake victims. This amount, he said, would be reimbursed by the government.
