Federal Industries and Production Secretary Shafqat Naghmi on Thursday informed the Senate’s Committee on Industries and Production that sugar has not been included in the items of Ramazan package.
The meeting of the committee was held under Senator Zafarul Haq for detailed briefing about utility stores corporation. During the meeting, the secretary told that ministry would take stern action against those who would be involved in smuggling of essential commodities during Ramazan. He said that hoarding would not be tolerated at any cost and quality of products will also be ensured.
He said that sugar is not listed among Ramazan package however government has given subsidy of Rs 5 per kg on sugar to facilitate the citizens. He said that normally vigilance of utility stores have been ensured however now ministry is evolving a mechanism to maintain vigilance of stores throughout year. Naghmi said that ministry has written letters to the chief secretaries of the provinces to direct DCOs to monitor the ramazan packages in their areas.
Utility Stores Corporation (USC) Managing Director Sultan Mehmood informed the committee that Rs 27 billion taxes have been deposited by the USC this year. He said that USC has 800 franchises in the country, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA. Senator Ilyas Bilour said that in FATA military has not accessed the whole areas then how USC has established its branches there?
Mehmood said the USC was going to launch Ramazan programme on July 7 and during this time separate lines would be establish for sugar and Wheat flour to avert rush of people.
USC administration has established separate lines for elders and women to facilitate the old citizens, he said. He also said the utility stores would remain open from 10am to 10pm to facilitate the people and administration would give one additional salary to the employees for their overtime.
