The Utility Stores Corporation outlets have increased the price of white refined sugar by Rs 2 per kilo, without a formal notification from the Ministry of Industries and Production (MoIP). In some USC outlets in the city, sugar was being black-marketed at higher prices against the ones fixed by the government, a brief survey of utility stores showed on Saturday.
As the price of refined sugar in the retail shops had surged to Rs 80 per kilogram, ahead of fresh sugar stocks, the utility stores management has started charging exorbitant money from the crises-hit masses. The managers at various stores sold commodity at higher rates by creating a fear that the price would further shoot up due to increase in international sugar prices.
To facilitate consumers, MoIP had announced to sell sugar at Rs 38/kg through various branches of the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) across the country, but it has failed to implement its own issued directives. The managers at various stores put away the sacks of sugar at unknown places from where it was black-marketed.
When this reporter asked the consumers, who were standing at utility store in front of MPA Hostel, Sindh Secretariat, that why they were paying extra money against the price announced by the government, they said it was better to pay Rs 4 on per 2/kg than buying sugar at Rs 80/kg from the retail shop. But, when this reporter asked the manager for unreasonable increase in sugar price, he found him answerless.
They said managers at various people-friendly shops misbehaved with consumers, when they asked them about non-availability of the commodity despite assurance from MoIP. At some utility stores the consumers were forced to return home without sugar, and directed to contact nearest store after a few days.
Despite assurance from the government, the USC declared presentation of NIC card mandatory for the customers in order to get 2/kg bag of sugar. The USC sent additional officers at utility stores and assigned them a job to maintain list of customers with names and identity cards for issuance of 2/kg sack of sugar. However, Regional Manager (USC) Karachi-Zone Muhammad Riaz rejected the reports of increase in sugar price and pledged to take stern action against those officials who are involved in this corruption.