In an attempt to muster public support before presentation of the federal budget, Senior Federal Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi on Thursday ordered a reduction in prices of 133 essential commodities being sold at Utility Stores.
The decision was taken in a meeting held at the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) Head Office, Islamabad with Elahi, who is also the federal defence production and industries minister, in the chair. Elahi directed the Utility Stores management to provide maximum relief to the public on prices of essential commodities.
Prices of essential items at all Utility Stores in the country will be reduced by 5.38 percent. Price of daal channa will be reduced from Rs 66 per kilogramme to Rs 64, daal masur from Rs 92 to 85, masur sabit from Rs 82 to 75, moong sabit from Rs 144 to 138, mash sabit from Rs 132 to 120 and kala channa from Rs 65 to 60.
Similarly prices of edible oils, ghee, syrups, spices, milk, jams, insecticides, shampoo etc will also be reduced by Rs 5 to 13.
Elahi also directed the USC to sell 20 kilogrammes flour bags at Rs 20 less than the market rate and ghee at Rs 8 less than the market rate. The senior federal minister appreciated the fact that all USC outlets were selling sugar at Rs 10 to Rs 15 less than the market rate.
In order to provide maximum relief to the general public during the holy month of Ramadan, Elahi, as advised by Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) President Senator Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, has decided to personally hold talks with vendors and suppliers along with USC officials.
