Managing Director Utility Stores Corporation (USC), Brigadier Hafeez Ahmed (Retd) said on Tuesday that 'Bachat Card Scheme' launched by the government intends to help 6.8 million extremely poor families of the country. Their data was obtained from the relevant government agencies and departments, including Nadra and Baitul Maal, he said while talking to PTV.
The Ration Cards Scheme has been launched to facilitate the poor people, and all necessary steps will be taken to ensure that these are issued only to the needy. Hafeez Ahmed said the government was planning to expand the coverage of the utility stores by increasing its branch network, bringing utility stores number from 4,500 to 6,000.
The scheme has been initiated on the directives of the President to provide relief to the low-income people, he said, adding the cards will be provided to them after proper inquiry. "It would greatly ease the supply situation as the network is designed to meet the basic requirements of the population by providing essential items at reduced rates," he added.