Additional wheat allocated to USC

The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet on Monday approved allocation of additional 200,000 metric tons of wheat for the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) from the Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (PASSCO) with total cost of Rs.8.690 billion including incidental charges of Rs1.690 billion. The meeting presided over by the Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance, Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, decided that the approved quantity would be released in tranches with an immediate release of first tranche of 50,000 metric tons (MT).

The remaining would be released on demand by the USC.

An official said the release of wheat to the USC was part of the Rs50 billion announced for the USC by the prime minister in response to the coronavirus to provide essential commodities at subsidised rates and the matter also came under discussion during the last meeting of the ECC.

The official further added that the USC would invite tenders from the mills for grinding of the wheat pack, the flour in the bags having USC stamp on them before selling it to people at the price of Rs800 per 20kg from its outlets.

The purpose for having USC brand on the bags was to deal with any kind of misuse.

The chair also directed that the records of the USC and the PASSCO may be completely computerized, so that it may ensure transparency and facilitate decision making. There was also a discussion in the ECC on data collection from private flour mills in order to ascertain the correct situation of demand and supply of wheat/atta in the country, and to ensure accuracy in decision making. The chair also asked the Poverty Alleviation Division to ensure transparency and efficiency in disbursement of funds to the vulnerable in the wake of the COVID-19 situation in the country.

Secretary Poverty Alleviation Social Safety Division assured the ECC that no one would be allowed to swindle the poor people of this country.

He further stated that multiple arrests had already been made and exemplary punishment would be given to those who would cheat the poor. The division also briefed the ECC that so far 1.7 million families had been paid under the Ehsaas programme and payments to the remaining families were underway.