Govt Planning to Give 300% Bigger Relief Package At Utility Stores

The federal government is set to introduce a substantial relief package for the public through Utility Stores. Sources told ProPakistani that the new plan includes a significant 300 percent increase in subsidies for essential items. The proposed package suggests offering a Rs. 100 per kilogram subsidy on pulses, chickpeas, and broken rice and another Rs. 100/kg subsidy on ghee. Sugar will also be subsidized at the state-run outlets. Sources said the current model for flour subsidy under the Prime Minister’s relief package will be maintained. The summary of the new package has been sent to the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) for approval, and it will be implemented after receiving the green light from the ECC and the federal cabinet. The new package is expected to come into effect on August 1. Currently, the Prime Minister’s package subsidizes five basic items at utility stores: sugar, ghee, flour, rice, and pulses. The budget has allocated a total of Rs. 65 billion for utility store subsidies. Last fiscal year, the allocation under the Prime Minister’s package was Rs. 35 billion.