Govt to launch ration card scheme soon: PM

Cardholders will be provided with essential items worth Rs3,000 at Utility Stores each month

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday said the government would soon announce a ration card scheme for the poor.

“Cardholders will be provided with basic commodities worth Rs3,000 at Utility Stores each month,” the premier said during his visit to the Utility Store at G-9 Markaz, Islamabad.

The government has launched a Rs7 billion relief package under which essential items would be sold at cheaper rates at 4,000 Utility Stores across the country.

The premier said the relief package was not only aimed at ensuring the provision of flour, sugar, edible oil, rice, pulses and other essential items to the poor at cheaper rates but also to check inflationary trends in the open market.

He noted that high-quality flour was being sold at Utility Stores at a subsidised rate of Rs800 per 20-kg bag.

He added that edible oil had becomes expensive in the country because of its higher rates in the international market.

“However, the government is trying to increase its local produce by encouraging sunflower and canola growers.”

The prime minister also noted that pulses worth $1.5 billion were imported into the country every year.

“The government is striving to boost the cultivation of pulses in the country,” he said.

To a question, the prime minister said one of main reasons behind the rising inflation and price hike was the role of “middlemen” who were making profits at the cost of consumers and growers.

To another question, PM Imran said the government had provided Rs7 billion for the relief package and more funds would be allocated to subsidise the prices of basic commodities if required.

“After achieving economic stability in the year 2019, the government will now focus on job creation, industrialisation and growth,” he said.

Earlier, the prime minister was briefed by Utility Stores Corporation Chairman Zulqarnain Ali Khan and Managing Director Umar Lodhi about the relief package, the stocks available at the stores and the technology being introduced to ensure that the targeted population benefitted from the subsidy.

Adviser to the Prime Minister on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan were also present on the occasion.

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With additional input from APP