Staff Reporter
Islamabad
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan Tuesday said Prime Minister Imran Khan had announced a Rs 7 billion subsidy package for providing relief to the poor people through the Utility Stores Corporation ( USC).
Addressing a press conference flanked with USC Chairman Zulqarnain Ali Khan and Managing Director Umar Lodhi here, she said the relief package would be utilized to provide daily use edible items, including flour, edible oil, rice and pulses, to the USC customers at subsidized rates.
Dr Firdous said it was the prime minister’s commitment to pass on the positive impacts of economic growth to the common man and the subsidy package was part of that promise.
She said under the vision of State of Madina, the poor and weaker segments of the society would be provided relief on priority. Through a technological filter mechanism, it would be ensured that the benefit of subsidy should reach the common man transparently.
Appreciating the USC chairman, she said he was an old companion of Prime Minister Imran Khan, who had volunteered his services free of cost to the USC.
Speaking on the occasion, Chairman Utility Stores Corporation, Zulqarnain Ali Khan said flour, sugar, ghee, rice and pulses will be available to people at reduced rates under the new package.
Zulqarnain Khan said restructuring of USC is being done on modern lines but no employee has been fired from the jobs.
He said the present wave of inflation is linked with high prices of commodities in international oil market.
The Chairman USC said ration card scheme will be introduced soon by the government in which USC outlets will play a key role.
He said the Corporation aims to enhance its network from existing 4,000 stores to 10,000.
