ISLAMABAD – Today, the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) is rolling out the Prime Minister’s Ramadan Relief Package 2024, valued at Rs 7.5 billion. The initiative, announced by the prime minister, aims to ease the financial burden on the public by offering subsidized rates on essential food items during Ramadan.
Under the relief package, a USC spokesperson stated that discounts would apply to 19 basic food items. These include flour, ghee, edible oil, sugar, various pulses, gram flour (besan), dates, rice, tea, spices, milk, and beverages.
The USC is committed to ensuring sufficient stock of these items at its stores to meet the increased demand during the holy month. The scheme specifically targets low-income families, with around 200 million individuals registered under the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), now eligible under the PMT-60 category.
For BISP beneficiaries, the following subsidized rates are available: a 10-kilogram bag of flour for Rs 648, ghee at Rs 365 per kg, and sugar at Rs 109 per kg. Additionally, a Rs 25 per liter subsidy is provided on edible oil. There are also significant discounts on pulses, besan, dates, rice, tea, and milk. For example, Rs 25 per kg off on Basmati, Silah, and broken rice, Rs 100 reduction on 800 grams of tea, and Rs 30 per liter less on packed milk.
Families registered with the BISP can purchase up to 20 kg of flour, 5 kg of sugar and ghee, and 3 kg each of rice, pulses, and cooking oil, while there is no purchase limit for other items. Individuals who are eligible but not yet registered with BISP are encouraged to contact the program’s regional offices or Utility Stores to benefit from the relief package.
Furthermore, the USC provides additional special discounts for the general public. This includes up to 15 percent off on over 1000 items, the details of which will be displayed at USC outlets. During Ramadan, all outlets will operate normally to serve the public.
For the promotion of transparency and consumer satisfaction, a dedicated monitoring cell has been established at the USC head office. Vigilance teams are also deployed nationwide to oversee the package’s implementation. The public can report any complaints through the helpline number (0800-05590).
