Prime Minister Imran Khan said that soon the government would announce a ration card scheme for the needy.
“Cardholders will be provided with basic commodities worth Rs3,000 at Utility Stores each month,” the premier said during his visit to the Utility Store at G-9 Markaz, Islamabad.
The administration has introduced a relief package of Rs7 billion in order to sell essential items to 4,000 service stores across the country at cheaper rates.
The Prime Minister stated that the relief package not only was intended to ensure cheaper rates for the provision of food, sugar, edible oil, rice, pulses and other key items to the needy, but also to track inflation in the open market.
He noted that high quality meal was sold by Rs800 per 20 kilos bag at utilities at a subsidized rate. He added that edible oil in the country had become expensive due to its higher international market prices.
“However, the government is trying to increase its local produce by encouraging sunflower and canola growers.”
Earlier, the prime minister was briefed by Utility Stores Corporation Chairman Zulqarnain Ali Khan and Managing Director Umar Lodhi about the relief package, the stocks available at the stores and the technology being introduced to ensure that the targeted population benefitted from the subsidy.
