The federal government is preparing to roll out a substantial relief package aimed at the public through Utility Stores, according to sources cited by ProPakistani. The proposed plan entails a significant 300 percent increase in subsidies for essential commodities. Under the new package, it is proposed to provide a subsidy of Rs. 100 per kilogram on pulses, chickpeas, and broken rice, along with another Rs. 100 per kilogram subsidy on ghee. Additionally, sugar will continue to be subsidized at state-run outlets.
Sources indicated that the existing subsidy model for flour under the Prime Minister’s relief package will be maintained. The detailed proposal for the new package has been forwarded to the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) for approval, following which it will be presented to the federal cabinet. The package is anticipated to be implemented starting from August 1.
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Currently, the Prime Minister’s relief package subsidizes five key items at utility stores: sugar, ghee, flour, rice, and pulses. The budget for these utility store subsidies has been allocated a total of Rs. 65 billion. In the previous fiscal year, the allocation under the Prime Minister’s package stood at Rs. 35 billion, highlighting the government’s efforts to enhance affordability and accessibility of essential food items for the general public.
