The Utility Stores Corporation (USC) informed the Senate Committee on Industries and Production that it has constituted as many as nine monitoring teams besides designating 153 officials for effective monitoring of Ramzan Package during the holy month of Ramazan.
The Senate Committee, which met here under chairmanship of Senator Hidayatullah, was attended by Senators Mrs Khalida Parveen, Chaudhry Tanvir Khan, Mst Kalsoom Parveen, Mian Muhamamd Ateeq Shaikh, Khanzada Khan and Mohsin Aziz.
USC Managing Director Gulzar Hussain Shah informed the committee that the ministry of industries and production would also constitute monitoring teams of other departments under its control to ensure the relief reaches to the deserving.
In addition, a separate operation room will be set up at USC Head Office, Islamabad, to receive complaints related to pricing, quality and non-availability of commodities at the outlets.
Hussain informed the committee that the USC would provide subsidy on 22 items to facilitate people during the holy month.
Talking about the distribution system, he said that the subsidised items would be available on 5,455 utility store outlets all across the country. In addition, the items would also be made available at 300 Ramazan Bazaars established all across Punjab.
He informed the committee that utility ghee/oil will be available from Rs 115-125 per kg compared to 125-175 per kg market prices, dall channa would be available at Rs 120 per kg compared to 150-160 per kg in the open market, dall moong (washed) at Rs 148 per kg compared to Rs170-180 per kg while dall mash (washed) would be available at Rs273 per kg compared to Rs280-290 per kg in the market.
Similarly, dall masoor would be sold at Rs115 per kg compared to Rs160-180 per kg in the market, white gram at Rs115 per kg compared to Rs160-180 per kg in the market, Basen at Rs120 per kg against Rs155-160 per kg, black gram at Rs110 per kg against Rs140-145 per kg, Sella broken at Rs40 per kg compared to Rs55-60 per kg whereas mash shell per kg would be available at Rs258 compared to Rs270-280 per kg.
Likewise, Masoor (whole) would be provided at Rs120 per kg against Rs145-155 per kg, dates at Rs160 per kg against 200-240 per kg, rice (super basmati) at Rs 72 per kg against Rs 80 to 100 per kg, rice (super sella) at Rs72 per kg against Rs80-100 per kg, broken rice would be available at Rs48 per kg against Rs55-60 per kg, squashes and syrups (1500ml) at Rs265 against Rs295, squashes and syrups (800ml) at Rs152 against Rs170, black tea at Rs603 per kg against Rs690 per kg, milk (tetra pack) at Rs102 liter kg against 110 per liter while all USC spices would be available on 10 per cent discount.
The MD USC said that as much as Rs1751.13 million subsidy would be provided on these items compared to subsidy of Rs 1134.272 million in 2015, Rs 1316.144 in 2014 and Rs 1795.791 in 2013.