ISLAMABAD, June 7: Most of the country’s 158 million people, mostly in rural areas, is unable to benefit from the government’s scheme to provide pulses, flour and sugar at subsidised rates as 182 of the 380 tehsils in Pakistan do not have any Utility Stores outlet.

The government launched the Rs12 billion subsidy scheme on Tuesday to sell wheat flour, sugar and pulses through Utility Stores. The Utility Stores Corporation runs about 560 outlets, including 100 opened during the past few months, an official told Dawn. The government plans to open another 300 outlets in six to nine months.

Less than 200 union councils had access to USC outlets and most of them were in big cities, the official said. There are about 6,030 union councils in the country.

The USC outlets have large concentration in the big cities while Balochistan, the Northern areas and other remote areas have very limited number of stores. For instance, there are 26 outlets in Islamabad, while Balochistan has only 20.

On the other hand, some tehsils have more than 20 outlets.

The government plans to establish at least one outlet in each district.

The corporation also runs 450 mobile stores through trucks for supply of sugar and flour. In addition, there are 42 USC outlets in weekly bazaars and 90 in different labour colonies. The total number of USC sale points is 1,142.

President Pervez Musharraf will launch next month an employment scheme which is expected to extend the USC coverage across the country. Under the plan, pulses, sugar and flour will be supplied through tricycles, rickshaws and pick-up vans.

Loans will be given through the National Bank for mobile franchise USC sale points, in the form of tricycles, rickshaws and pick-up vans, besides outlets in buildings. The mobile stations will be used specifically for the subsidised items. The government will take responsibility for the insurance and 50 per cent of the mark-up on the loans.