ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that the government would unveil the Ramazan relief package this year without the Utility Stores Corporation (USC)’s role to prevent corruption and distribution of low-quality commodities to people.
In January, the federal cabinet formed a high-level committee to develop a comprehensive strategy for the prompt shutdown of USC operations nationwide.
Traditionally, the prime minister’s Ramazan package is offered to the general public through utility stores. However, the committee was also tasked to prepare a strategy for providing the Ramazan package in coordination with the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP).
In the budget, the allocation for USC nearly doubled from the previous year. In the recent past, there have been different proposals to restructure the corporation to improve its finances or close 1,000 loss-making outlets nationwide. There are about 5,130 stores nationwide, according to media sources.
While addressing a federal cabinet meeting in Islamabad, the premier said, “As the Holy Ramazan is about to start, I have asked the Ministry of National Food Security to bring about a Ramzan Package without the Utility Stores to prevent corruption and the sale of low-quality material.
“I had asked many months ago that this cannot go on with the Utility Stores,” the premier said.He told the cabinet members that last year, the government had received immense complaints about the execution of the Ramazan package by the Utility Stores Corporation.
Regarding the polio vaccination drive, PM Shehbaz mentioned that a policeman, who was deployed for the security of the polio team, was killed in Jamrud, adding that his sacrifice was not in vain.The premier also lauded the services of the polio team “for their tireless efforts to rid the country of this crippling disease”.
Apprising the cabinet members of his Quetta visit on Monday, the prime minister said he had paid a visit to the security personnel who were injured during an anti-terrorism operation in Kalat.The military’s media affairs wing on Feb 1 had said that 18 soldiers were martyred, and 23 terrorists were killed in various sanitisation operations in Balochistan.
