Tag: Utility Stores Corporation

  • Over Rs6.4 billion allocated for Ramzan subsidies: Essential items to be available at reduced rates

    Over Rs6.4 billion allocated for Ramzan subsidies: Essential items to be available at reduced rates

    The government has earmarked Rs6.484 billion to provide essential food items at subsidised rates through the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) during the holy month of Ramzan.

    A substantial portion of the allocation, Rs3.474 billion, will go towards subsidising flour, followed by Rs1.610 billion for sugar and Rs1.4 billion for ghee.

    Additionally, subsidies of Rs25 million for channa daal, Rs12 million for masoor daal, Rs37.50 million for white gramme, and Rs62.5 million for basmati rice are planned. Further, Rs20 million and Rs62.5 million are allocated for Sehlla rice and broken rice, respectively.

    The implementation of the Ramzan relief package is set to commence on March 4th.

    Further breakdown reveals Rs200 million for cooking oil, Rs20 million for washed moong daal, Rs6.25 million for washed maash daal, Rs100 million for chakki baisen, Rs50 million for dates, Rs22.50 million for carbonated drinks (1,500 ml), Rs30 million for squash and syrup (800 ml), Rs150 million for black tea, Rs15 million for UHT milk, and Rs50 million for spices.

    Moreover, an allocation of Rs145 million is designated for an awareness campaign through electronic and print media regarding the Ramzan Package, set to kick off on March 4th, 2024.

    The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) has greenlit the Ministry of Industries and Production’s proposal for a Rs7.492 billion Ramzan Relief Package. This package aims to provide 19 essential items at subsidised rates through the USC.

    In response to IMF restrictions on untargeted subsidies, the government has opted to provide subsidies exclusively to beneficiaries registered under the PMT-40 of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) for the fiscal year 2023–24.

  • Utility Stores to implement Rs7.492 billion relief package ahead of Ramzan

    Utility Stores to implement Rs7.492 billion relief package ahead of Ramzan

    The federal government is set to implement the Ramzan Relief Package, totaling Rs7.492 billion, through the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) starting March 4, 2024. This initiative aims to provide relief to targeted beneficiaries by offering subsidies on 19 essential items.

    The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet approved this decision based on a proposal from the Ministry of Industries and Production. The proposal sought approval for providing subsidies to targeted beneficiaries registered under the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) with a net amount of Rs7.492 billion.

    Of this, Rs 5 billion was allocated in the current fiscal year 2023–24 for the Ramzan Relief Package 2024, with the remaining Rs 2.492 billion to be re-appropriated from the current fiscal year budget allocations for the Prime Minister Relief Package (PMRP).

    The ECC directed the Finance Division to release the full subsidy amount of Rs7.492 billion to ensure timely purchases and necessary arrangements for the availability of these items at USC outlets.

    With Ramzan expected to commence on March 11, 2024, the implementation date for the Ramzan Relief Package-2024 was proposed from March 4, 2024, until the last day of Ramzan.

    Since 1991, the government has been providing relief during Ramzan by selling 19 items at subsidised rates through USC outlets. For the fiscal year 2023–24, the federal government allocated Rs35 billion for subsidies on essential items, including Rs30 billion for PMRP and Rs5 billion for the Ramzan Relief Package 2024.

    The Ramzan Relief Package aims to provide maximum relief to the masses. Due to restrictions imposed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on untargeted subsidies, subsidies are provided to targeted beneficiaries registered under PMT-40 of BISP for the fiscal year 2023–24.

    The USC is currently serving 26.92 million households registered under PMT-40. To extend assistance to more beneficiaries during Ramzan-2024, it is proposed to provide subsidies on 19 items to targeted beneficiaries registered under PMT-60, reaching an additional 12.73 million households.

  • Karachi wholesale grocers announce market shutdown in protest against alleged illegal raids, fines

    Karachi wholesale grocers announce market shutdown in protest against alleged illegal raids, fines

    Wholesalers in Karachi are set to stage a market shutdown on Monday in protest of what they consider unlawful raids and penalties imposed by the district administration in an effort to combat hoarding.

    According to ARY News, Rauf Ibrahim, the Chairman of the Karachi Wholesale Grocers Association (KWGA), held a press conference today, expressing concern that the district administration’s actions have created fear among traders due to shop and go-down closures. 

    He cautioned that they would cease operations at wholesale markets on Monday unless the district administration unseals these establishments. He said if these unjust raids and fines persist, we will suspend commodity markets on Monday.

    Ibrahim alleged that the district administration is sealing shops and go-downs under the pretext of cracking down on hoarding. He cited an instance where a shop owner in Joria Bazar was fined Rs30,000 for storing just two sacks of sugar.

    He criticised the categorisation of wholesalers with 100 to 500 sacks of sugar as hoarders and stressed that traders are willing to cooperate with authorities during hoarding crackdowns.

    Ibrahim urged the administration to take decisive action against genuine hoarders.

    To combat hoarding, federal and provincial governments have initiated operations in various cities, including Lahore, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Faisalabad, Peshawar, Quetta, and Dera Ismail Khan, resulting in the confiscation of illegally stockpiled sugar.

    Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) assured that there is an ample supply of sugar available at controlled prices nationwide.

  • Govt announces Rs5 billion Ramzan Relief Package for poor

    The government of Pakistan has unveiled a Ramzan Relief Package worth Rs5 billion to aid the poor during the holy month of Ramzan. Syed Murtaza Mahmud, Minister for Industries and Production, announced the package during a press conference, stating that the federal government’s first priority is to alleviate hardship and inflation for citizens.

    The package went into effect on March 21 and will run until the end of the holy month. In addition to the five basic food items already being provided at subsidized rates through the Utility Stores Corporation, the Prime Minister has expanded the relief package to include 19 subsidized items such as flour, sugar, ghee, cooking oil, tea, dates, besan, dal mash, dal mong, milk, drinks, and spices.

    The USC official also outlined two types of subsidies: targeted and general. Targeted subsidy is exclusively for users registered under the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP), while general subsidy is accessible to the entire country.

    For example, targeted subsidy flour is priced at Rs400 per 10 kg bag, sugar at Rs70 per kg and ghee at Rs300 per kg, while under general subsidy, a 10 kg bag of flour is available at Rs648, sugar at Rs91 per kg, and ghee at Rs490 per kg. The USC also provides a subsidy of Rs20 on white gram, super basmati rice, sella rice, and broken rice, Rs50 per kg on gram flour, and a 10% discount on spices. Tea, dates, milk, and beverages will also receive subsidies.

    The Prime Minister has also launched a free flour package in collaboration with the distribution points and utility stores established in different areas of Islamabad. Each registered household under BISP will receive one bag of 10 kg as a gift for the first time, and the remaining two bags will be received after 7 days.

    During the entire month of Ramzan, every registered household will receive three bags of flour (10 kg per bag) free of charge. To check eligibility, citizens can SMS their National Identity Card to 8171 or visit the BISP offices. It should be noted that apart from flour, sugar, and ghee, other subsidized items will be provided at the same rate for both general and targeted subsidy users.