Utility Stores Corporation chairman working without pay: Firdous

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – Special Assistant on Information Firdous Ashiq Awan on Tuesday has said that Utility Stores Corporation (USC) Chairman Zulqarnain Ali Khan is working without pay. While giving a media briefing along with Zulqarnain Ali Khan and USC Managing Director Umer Lodhi, Firdous Ashiq Awan said that The government has given a package of seven billion rupees to USC to ensure provision of items of daily use to people at reasonable rates.

Pattern of state of Madinah to reduce suffering of people

She said it is a commitment of incumbent government to provide relief to downtrodden and poor segments of society under the vision of Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan. Firdous also said the step is to create a society on the pattern of state of Madinah to reduce suffering of people who are facing financial hardships. On the occasion, Zulqarnain Ali Khan said flour, sugar, ghee, rice and pulses will be available to people at reduced rates under the new package. He said that the prices of things are less than 20 to 30 per cent from the market. “20KG packet of flour is being sold Rs1000 in the market but this is available 810 to 850 on the USC,” he maintained. He also mentioned that they will provide 30 to 40 per cent subsidy on the five brands of ghee, adding that Pulses are kept at Rs10-20 below from the market rate. The USC chairman also said restructuring of USC is being done on modern lines but no employee has been fired from the jobs. He said the present wave of inflation is linked with high prices of commodities in international oil market.

Ration card scheme to be introduced soon

The USC chairman said ration card scheme will be introduced soon by the government in which USC outlets will play a key role.  He said the Corporation aims to enhance its network from existing 4,000 stores to 10,000.