Utility Stores jack up ghee price again

There appears to be no respite for the public crushed under the unbearable weight of extreme inflation as the price of ghee sold under the prime minister's package at Utility Stores has been jacked up by Rs115 and is now being sold at Rs490 per kilo.

The hike follows the one on Jan 1, when the price of ghee was increased by Rs75 per kilo.

However, the new rates will not apply to the beneficiaries of Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) as ghee will be sold for Rs300 per kg to them.

The Utility Stores Corporation (USC) spokesperson said in a statement that they were providing a special subsidy on basic items under the Prime Minister's Relief Package. These include flour, sugar, ghee, rice and pulses.

However, he added, the uncertainty in market prices, non-availability of dollar and increase in general sales tax (GST) led to price revisions by companies supplying the items to the Utility Stores.

The spokesperson said that under the BISP, ghee will be provided to consumers at Rs300 per kg, sugar Rs70 per kg, and a 10kg bag of flour at Rs400.

As for the general consumers, ghee will be available at Rs490 per kg, sugar Rs89 per kg and a 10kg bag of flour at Rs648.