Cabinet approves Rs 2.27b relief package for Ramazan

Pakistan

Cabinet approves Rs 2.27b relief package for Ramazan

Close

15 July,2010 06:37 am

The Federal Cabinet on Wednesday approved a relief package of Rs 2.27 billion to reduce the prices of essential commodities during the holy month of Ramazan. The Cabinet also constituted a committee comprising the Ministers for Commerce, Food and Agriculture, Industries and Production and Finance to review the situation with a view to ensuring its implementation and availability of essential food items to the common man at affordable prices during Ramazan. The Prime Minister directed the Cabinet Committee to consider appropriate utilization of the surplus wheat stock with the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) and others and maintain demand and supply position of sugar in the country so that no shortage of these essential items takes place during Ramazan. The Prime Minister said that during the forthcoming Ramazan, all Cabinet Members and Parliamentarians should regularly visit the markets to ensure that the general public does not suffer at the hands of the hoarders and profiteers. The Prime Minister said that the Utility Stores Corporation with its 5700 outlets in the country should play proactive role to provide essential food items to the poor at affordable prices particularly essential items like Atta, Ghee, Sugar, Daal Chana and Rice Tota during Ramazan. The Cabinet also decided to reduce the airfare for Hajj 2010 by Rs 9000 as against Rs 15000 earlier approved by the Cabinet. This has been possible due to negotiations with PIA to charge minimum Hajj fare as compared to last year.