The government is offering the people of Multan region a subsidy of Rs 63 million on just nine items every month. Regional Manager Utility Stores Corporation (USC), Shahzad Ahmed here Friday said that this subsidy adds up to a hefty amount of Rs 750 million per annum, and reflects the government's sincere endeavour to minimise the impact of price hike on the common man.
The nine items on which subsidy is being offered include sugar, vegetable ghee, cooking oil, fine rice, broken rice and four pulses; Gram, Masoor, Moong and Maash. He said work on the government plan to open a utility store in each union council continues, so that people could get subsidised consumer items at their doorstep.
At the moment, there are 18 regular utility stores, 18 sale points and three mobile stores operating across the Multan district. Seven more utility stores are functioning in Muzaffargarh, Khanewal, Kabirwala and Dunyapur (Lodhran).
Besides, many franchised stores operating under the aegis of USC in the region include thirty-five in Multan, three in Sahiwal, four in Muzaffargarh and four in Dunyapur.
Shahzad Ahmed said the estimated daily consumption of the nine consumer items through utility stores in Multan region is sugar 65,000 kg, vegetable ghee 30,000 kg, cooking oil 30,000 kg, fine rice 30,000 kg, broken rice 10,000 kg, and all major pulses 20,000 kg.
"Utility stores serve a dual purpose, offering subsidised consumer items to low income segments on the one hand, and helping to keep the open market prices of these items at a sensible level on the other," he added.
He enumerated some other items on sale at cheaper rates at some specific utility stores. These are soaps, shampoos, cold drinks, tea husk, jams, pickles, tooth pastes, tooth brushes, towels, washing powders, electrical appliances and cloth seized by the customs department.
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