ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb has said “Sasta Ghee schemes has been launched following the Prime Minister (PM) Sasta atta scheme.
“ the price of atta per kilogram in Pakistan Rs 35 per kilogram in 2018. During the last four years the atta price rose to Rs 90 to Rs 100 per kilogram from Rs 35 per kilogram. Atta quality was also comprised all over the country including utility stores”, she said this while addressing a press conference here in press club Monday.
She claimed atta was smuggled first of all then it was exported and later it was imported. This was price was spiked. Like wise sugar first of all was exported and then it was imported.
PM Shahbaz Sharif fixed the price of atta Rs 400 per 10 kilogram bag in utility stores. From June 01, the project for providing 10 kilogram atta bag at the rate of Rs 400 to people through utility stores started . 100 mobile utility stores units were included from June 06,2022 in KP due to shortage of utility stores.
She informed that price control committees have also been constituted. She said steps are being taken to check hoarding and smuggling of the essential commodities.
The Information Minister indicated seventeen billion rupees have been earmarked in the budget for the provision of cheap ghee, flour and sugar to the people in the next fiscal year.
Monitoring is being done so that the atta, ghee, sugar are not being sold out at higher rates outside the utility stores. Monitoring committees give update to chief secretaries. PM holds meeting every week on this count. Provincial secretaries of food and security and provincial chief secretary are present in the meeting.
If the people see any difference of price at utility stores or the goods are not available therein then the committee can be informed through toll free number. The teams will take prompt action on the complaints of the people.
Subsidy amounting to Rs 17 billion has been earmarked in the budget under the head of provision of atta, sugar and atta at subsidized rate. Rs 17 billion have been allocated for the next year, she added.
She claimed that Imran Khan has deliberately violated IMF agreement.