Punjab govt allows opening of utility stores from 9am to 8pm

LAHORE (92 News) – The Punjab government has allowed the opening of utility stores from 9am to 8pm. After the permission, the people will be able to purchase daily-use items after Iftar. Owing to the lockdown, the government had ordered to open the utility stores until 5pm. On April 17, Ramazan relief package was started at Utility Stores Corporation (USC), giving the consumers a subsidy on 19 items. Minister for Industries Hammad Azhar said there is no shortage of essential commodities in the country. He said the supply chains of essential items are open to ensure their availability across the country. He said the platform of USC is being used to stabilize the prices of essential items in the open market. He said under the Ramazan package, subsidy is being given to the consumers on nineteen items through the utility outlets. He said the government has given additional 50 billion rupees to the USC to maintain adequate sufficient stocks. He said eight million to ten million households are expected to benefit from Ramazan package this year. Hammad Azhar said the network of the Utility Stores is also being extended. “Currently, 200 mobile utility stores are operational and efforts are afoot to further expand them so that the people of far flung areas could also get essential items at reduced rates,” he added.