Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Sunday said the government would not allow hoarding of essential items and also profiteering to ensure their supply in the market on reasonable prices. He paid a surprise visit to a Utility Store here in the federal capital to review the supply of sugar and atta on prices fixed by the government.
Shaukat Aziz who visited the Utility Store in G-8, Karachi Company, without any protocol personally checked the prices and supply of these basic items of life to the consumers. Sunday being holiday, there was rush at the store and the people were surprised to see the Prime Minister among them without any security or protocol.
Shaukat Aziz assured the people that government would continue the supply of these essential items on subsidised rates to the consumers. He said besides the supply of sugar and atta through the Utility Stores throughout the country the government would also ensure the supply of these items through mobile vans where the facility of Utility Stores is not available particularly in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Northern Areas.
The Prime Minister said the government had managed to supply 5,000,000 bags of atta to the Utility Stores so that the people get it at the rate of Rs 11.50 per kg. He said the government has also allowed duty-free import of essential items so that the people could get it on reasonable rates.
Shaukat Aziz said the government would also take adequate measures to supply sugar and atta to the consumers through Utility Stores to maintain prices in the market.
People who gathered on the occasion thanked the Prime Minister for taking keen interest in the supply of these two important items on subsidised rates.
The Prime Minister said a special committee has been constituted to review the prices of essential commodities and to ensure the availability of these items on reasonable rates.
Shaukat Aziz said that he personally monitored the prices of essential commodities in the country so that the supply of these items could be maintained within the reach of the people.
Many retired employees who were busy in shopping at the Utility Store thanked the Prime Minister for taking personal interest in the supply of essential items and also informed him about the problems of pensioners.
The Prime Minister said government has increased pension along with the salaries of government servants in the new fiscal year. Shaukat Aziz while talking to people gathered outside the Utility Store said he would continue to make surprise visits to these stores to ensure supply of essential items at reasonable rates.