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PM approves Rs2bn Ramazan relief package for essential items: Firdous

PM approves Rs2bn Ramazan relief package for essential items: Firdous
May 6, 2019
ISLAMABAD (92 News) – Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan on Monday said that Prime Minister Imran Khan announced a Rs2 billion Ramazan package under which essential items would be provided to the people on cheaper rates at the Utility Stores. Addressing a news conference along with Managing Director Utility Stores Corporation Umer Lodhi, the minister said that 19 essential items of daily use will be available in all outlets of Utility Stores Corporation at subsidized rates for the people during the holy month of Ramadan. “19 essential commodities, including pulses, rice, cooking oil, and sugar are being provided on subsidized rates at about two thousand Utility Stores outlets,” she said. Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said Prime Minister Imran Khan is cognizant of the hardships faced by the people and has especially directed to provide two billion rupees as relief package to the USC for subsidizing the rates of essential items. Giving details, the Special Assistant said a subsidy of 95 rupees will be provided on a 20 kg bag of flour at the Utility Stores which will cost 700 rupees to the consumers. Similarly, a subsidy of 5 rupees per kg on sugar, 10 rupees per litre on edible oil, 25 rupees per kg on chick peas, 30 rupees per kg on dates, 15 rupees per kg on rice, 50 rupees per kg on tea and 15 rupees per kg on milk will be given. The minister said the subsidized rates will help people cope with inflationary pressures. Firdous Ashiq Awan said the previous government gave a subsidy of 1.6 billion rupees for Ramazan relief package but only 760 million rupees were spent due to capacity issues. She said this time it will be ensured to avoid the recurrence of that problem. Speaking on the occasion, MD Utility Stores Corporation Umer Lodhi said all out efforts are being made to ensure availability of these items at all 4300 stores of the corporation. He said a control room has been set up which will receive complaints of non-availability of products at the outlets. He said 70 thousand tons of subsidized flour will be arranged at the USC outlets. To a question, Firdous Ashiq Awan said Prime Minister Imran Khan and his team are striving hard for betterment of all the institutions in the best interest of the country. To another question, she said the Election commission of Pakistan has declared convicted person ineligible for having any party position but, despite the fact, the PML-N has appointed Maryam Nawaz as vice president of the party, trampling the decision of the ECP.