Islamabad: The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) on Wednesday approved a PKR 50 billion relief package for the Utility Stores Corporation (USC), a news source reported.
As per the publication, the ECC also approved a PKR 2.5 billion Ramzan relief package; however the meeting did further decide to not allocate any additional funds for the month of fasting as the aforementioned PKR 50 billion relief package is already being implemented. During the session, the ECC chairman additionally directed the USC to provide basic items to the people at reduced prices in the wake of the COVID-19 breakout.
The ECC had already disbursed PKR 21 billion to the USC after December 2019 in order to acquire basic items. The USC Managing-Director told the ECC that they had processes in place to provide affordable items to people in the time of crises.
Reportedly, the Ramzan relief package will become effective on April 17. In this package, the government will provide customers essential food products at subsidized rates at utility stores.
The
ECC was informed that five basic food items would be offered at reduced prices until
the end of Ramzan. The meeting was informed that certain prices would remain
stable till the end of the holy month. These included the price of ghee (PKR
170 per kilogram [kg]), sugar (PKR 68 per kg), wheat flour (PKR 800 per 20 kg),
gram pulses (PKR 130), and two types of rice (PKR 149 per kg and PKR 130 per kg).
