Items at USC get dearer as Ramazan package expires

The prices of various essential food items at the utility stores witnessed an increase as the relief package the government put in place during Ramazan expired.

Following the withdrawal of subsidies, rates of various lentils have gone up by Rs10 per kg. The price of black gram lentils has gone up from Rs268 to Rs278 per kg.

Similarly, the price of green gram lentils increased to Rs170 from Rs160 per kg.

According to the new rate list issued by the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) on Saturday, the price of basin rose by Rs20 per kg, taking it from Rs170 to Rs190 per kg. The price of 950g tea spiked by Rs67, whereas, the price of 500g dates was increased by Rs10.

Likewise, the prices of different brands of cooking oil have been increased by up to Rs20 per litre.

Meanwhile, the USC announced in a statement that the federal government would now subsidise five items instead of 19, rates of which were lowered under the Ramazan Relief Package.

Consequently, sugar would now be available at Rs70 per kg, ghee at Rs260 per kg and 10kg of flour would be available at Rs400.

Last month under the Ramazan Relief Package, the utility stores sold 19 essential food items at rates lower than that in the open market.

The customers availed subsidy of up to Rs3,000 at any of its 4,000 retail outlets spread across the country by simply showing their CNICs.