Sugar price at USC soars to Rs65/ kg

ISLAMABAD: The Utility Stores Corporation of Pakistan (USC) here on Monday decided to increase the prices of sugar to Rs.65 per kg besides enhancing the per month stock of the commodity to 100,000 MT for stabilizing the prices and ensuring its availability at its out-lets across the country.

"We have decided to increase the prices of sugar from Rs.55 per kilogram to Rs.65 per kilogram at the 5700 utility stores across the country keeping in view of the international markets trends and huge prices parity at the stores and in the open market", Managing Director USC Muhammad Arif Khan told a press conference here at Media Center of Press Information Department (PID) this evening.

Principal Information Officer Haji Ahmed and senior officials of the USC were also present on the occasion.

M.Arif Khan expressed the hope that decision of the government would help bring the soaring prices of the sugar to the lower level and as and when the prices of the commodity comes down the USC would also reduce the prices of the sugar.

He said that there is no shortage of sugar at the USC and currently 35,000 MT to 45,000 MT of the commodity per month is available adding the USC plans to double it to 100,000 MT per month.

The MD USC said that each store is getting average 300 kgs of sugar out of which 5kg and 2kg bags are being produced at the stores in order to enable the customers to buy the bags according to their purchasing power.

He explained that new system has been introduced for the purchase of the sugar at the stores, under which any customer wanted to purchase 5kg or 2 kg bag would first register his or her National Identity Card Number and then the customer would get 5kg or 2 kg bag.

He said that the prices of sugar at the Utility Stores are Rs.40-50 per kg less than open market and the government would continue to provide relief to the people on the prices of the commodity.

Arif Khan said that in order to ensure proper supply of sugar, the USC would also sell its sugar at Juma, Mangal and Itwar bazaars (weekly bazaars) through its trucks.

The truck would carry the banners of USC, prices of the commodity and the customers can also purchase sugar from these USC trucks on the controlled prices.

He warned that those elements internal (USC) or external if involved in any corruption or corrupt practices during the sale of sugar at any its out lets, FIR would be registered against such elements.

Replying to a question, he said that under public private partnership(PPP) the unemployed people can open franchise stores where USC facility was not available.

The USC within fifteen days would provide items for the store and the owner of the store can earn a respectable income for his families at his door step.

Replying to another question, he said that presence of a bank is mandatory for the establishment of a USC and deposit the sale amount in the bank on daily basis adding where there was no banking facility the USC has also negotiated with Pakistan Post Offices to deposit the amount of the daily sale in the post office.