The government Tuesday unveiled Rs 2 billion Ramazan Relief Package providing subsidy on 13 essential items and selling about 1500 items on reduced rates through out the Utility Stores. Federal Minister for Industries Ghulam Murtaza Jatoi told newsmen here that under the relief package, 13 main items, including atta (flour), ghee, cooking oil, gram pulse, baisen (gram flour), rice and dates on subsidised rates during the holy month of Ramazan.

Besides the government subsidy, the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) will sell 1500 items of daily use at 5-10 per cent discounted prices, reducing its own profit margin for providing relief to the marginalized segments of the society, he added. The minister said under the Ramazan package, the government would provide Rs 120 subsidy on a 20 kg flour bag, which would be available at Rs 655 at USC outlets as compared to Rs 785 in the open market.

Likewise, the price of ghee will be reduced by Rs 40 per kilogram, of cooking oil by Rs 30 per litre, gram pulse and baisen by Rs 20 per kg each and dates by Rs 40 per kg, he added. Jatoi said rice basmati would be discounted by Rs 30 per kg, tea by Rs 130 per kg and milk by Rs 11 per kg. He said the package would be applicable from Tuesday.

Copyright Associated Press of Pakistan, 2013