The number of utility stores has been increased to 3000 across the country in order to overcome the prevalent flour crisis. Now the flour is available at Rs 13 per kg at all the utility stores working on "no profit no loss" basis.
The Managing Director, Utility Stores Corporation (USC) Brigadier Hafeez Ahmed (retired), informed this in a press conference on Friday. He said that the government was fully aware of people's problems and President, General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister, Shaukat
Aziz took serious note of the soaring prices of all commodities, have specially ordered to overcome the flour crisis and ensure the availability of flour and sugar at cheaper rates. Ahmed said that the utility stores were providing flour at the rate of Rs 13 per kg. 'The sugar and other commodities are also available at lower rates in comparison to the open market.
To overcome the artificial crisis of flour, these stores are also operating mobile units to provide flour and other commodities in the remote areas', he added. He also said that the number of utility stores have been increased in Sindh also, added that 80 more utility stores would be opened soon in Karachi.
He said that the supply of flour was also increased to meet the growing demand during the month of Ramazan. "Now there is no shortage of commodities at the stores. The USC has devised a plan to facilitate customers and availability of staff besides increasing their duty times so as to facilitate people with better services, Ahmed added.