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USC to increase prices of daily use items from July 1
Tahir Rashid
Rawalpindi—As the people could not settle down after the tremor of
price hike of petroleum products, edible oil and electricity, the
government has decided to give one more shock to them by increasing
the price of flour at Utility Stores Corporation (USC).
It has been decided by high ups of Utility Stores Corporation to
increase Rs 50 on the 20 kg flour bag, which would be implemented
from July 01. After enhancing the price of 20-kg flour bag would be
available at Rs 330 from the current price Rs 280 at Utility Stores
from the next financial year.
Sources said that the 20 kg flour bag would be sold at rate Rs 50
market. Now the difference is Rs 100.
Utility Store would increase the price of 25 kitchen items including
grains, ghee, powdered red chilies and corn made items gradually
during the current calendar year due to international trend of
increasing the prices of food items, the source said.
During last two months besides the prices of edible items and
spices, the cost of daily usage products including bathroom items
like soap, toothpaste, shaving cream, tissue papers and shampoo has
been increased at Utility Stores. Whereas the price of plastic items
and utensils has been raised by almost 200 percent during 2008 at
the stores.
APP adds: The Utility Stores Corporation (USC) has clarified that
the recent increase in prices of different commodities at its stores
is due to an increase in their rates by the manufacturers.
“We have not increased our profit margins but as the manufacturers
have enhanced prices of their products we are forced to sell them
accordingly, “Managing Director USC Brig (r) Hafeez Ahmed told APP
on Sunday.
Dismissing the reports appeared in a section of press that the
corporation had increased the rates of ‘atta’, rice, ghee and
cooking oil without any reason, he said that the basic objective of
USC was to provide essential items to the deserving at affordable
rates and not to make money.
He said the hike in price of edible oil in the domestic market was
also due to a recent surge in price of palm oil in the international
market, which he added had a great share in the manufacturing of
edible oil.
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