The Senate Committee on Industries and Production, which met here in the Parliament House on Monday, has suggested that more utility stores be opened in rural as well as urban areas to provide maximum relief to the under-privileged class.
The meeting, which was presided over by Senator Muhammad Akram, also emphasised that the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) should ensure supply of quality goods to the people at reasonable rates. The committee appreciated the performance of the USC.
The Committee made these observations during a briefing by the USC managing-director on the steps taken by it for ensuring adequate supply and reasonable prices of essential consumer items to the common man.
The committee was informed that 344 utility stores were operating in the country and these stores were playing vital role as a price moderator.
The committee was informed that USC reduced prices of a number of essential items during Ramazan, setting example for the private traders to follow suit and also to ensure that prices in the open market remained under control.
It was further informed that mobile stores have been set up to ensure availability of essential items at all places.
The committee, while discussing the issue of prompt delivery of cars to customers by assemblers, underlined the need for streamlining the system with a view to make the process transparent and to ensure prompt delivery of cars to customers.
The committee was informed that Pakistan's automobile industry is a fast developing sector and it has experienced rapid expansion during the last two years.
The production volume of locally manufactured cars rose to 99000 this year as compared to 63000 during the last financial year.
The committee was informed that the government took a number of steps to create a competitive environment to achieve twin objectives of price reduction and better quality of locally manufactured cars.
The steps taken by the government included allowing only one booking per NTN number and enlarging dealers' base to break the monopolistic situation.
Moreover, it has been made mandatory "on rent a car companies" not to accept cars for rental business that are purchased through leasing till the full amount of the leased vehicle is paid.
This step, the committee was informed, was taken to reduce the gap between demand and supply.
The meeting was attended, besides committee chairman Senator Muhammad Akram and Minister of State Anisa Zeb Tahirkheli, by senators Syed Dilwar Abbas, Wali Muhammad Badini, Tanveer Khalid and Ilyas Ahmad Bilour.
Senator Ahmad Ali attended the meeting on special invitation. Mutawakkal Qazi, secretary, Ministry of Industries and Production, the USC MD and senior officers of the Ministry of Industries and Production and CBR were also present.