The increase in prices of essential commodities continues to be a big challenge for the government and Prime Minister Imran Khan chaired yet another meeting on Friday to reduce prices of essential commodities and provide immediate relief to people.

The meeting was briefed on the current situation of the prices of essential commodities (flour, wheat, sugar, ghee, rice and pulses) and measures taken to control them.

The chairman and managing director Utility Stores Corporation (USC) sought immediate grant of Rs 6 billion from the government to reduce the prices of basic essential food items.

The Prime Minister was informed that the immediate supply of funds by the government would lead to price reduction of Rs-132 per 20 kg in flour, Rs-09 per kg in sugar, Rs-30 per kg in ghee, Rs-20 per kg in rice and Rs-15 in pulses which would be made available for public consumption at Utility Stores.

The Prime Minister was briefed on the steps taken to curb corruption and embezzlement in Utility Stores, and to ensure the sufficient and a steady supply of essential food items to the public.

He was informed that it is being ensured that the purchased items at the Utility Stores are received at the USC warehouses without pilferage for packaging and onward dispatch to the Utility Stores outlets.

The measures are aimed at ensuring the quality of goods at USC in addition to eradicating corruption. The Prime Minister directed that it should be ensured through use of information technology, and corruption must be eradicated at all outlets.

Minister of Communications Murad Saeed said that in addition to a network of 4,000 utility stores, 800 post offices spread across the country can also be used to supply essential food items to the public. He further elaborated that home delivery service will soon be started by Pakistan Post Office to supply items at home to the poor and the needy.

The meeting was attended by Minister for Planning Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar, Minister for Communications Murad Saeed, SAPM for Social Welfare Dr SanIa Nishtar, secretaries and additional secretaries of Ministry of Finance, Planning Commission, Communication and National Food Security and Industry, chairman and managing director Utility Stores Corporation, chief commissioner Islamabad and other senior officials.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019