Sindh govt gives a Rs462mn subsidy on essential commodities at 108 Bachat bazaar.

KARACHI -- Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that his government is giving a Rs462 million subsidy on essential commodities such as flour, sugar and ghee for which 108 bachat bazaars have been set up in all the five divisions of the province.

'This subsidy would continue till the end of the holy month of Ramzan and simultaneously the government is taking concrete measures to stabilize prices in the market.

'This he said while addressing a press conference here at CM House on Monday.

He was flanked by his cabinet members Saeed Ghani, Sharjeel Inam Memon and Murtaza Wahab. Mr Shah disclosed that his government has set up 108 bachat bazaars in all five Divisions of the province, including 34 in Karachi, 19 Hyderabad, eight Mirpurkhas, 10 Larkana, 17 Shaheed Benazirabad and 19 Sukkur. 'The flour is being sold at all 108 Bachat Bazars set up across the province at Rs.400/10KG while the market price is Rs 800/10kg,' he said and added that his government was incurring a subsidy of Rs.462 million on provision of flour at subsidized rates at Bachat Bazars.Talking about sugar and Ghee, the CM said that at selected Bachat Bazaars sugar is being provided at Rs. 70-75/kg against a market price of Rs85 to 90 per kg. Similarly,Ghee is being sold at Rs 410/KG whereas its market price is Rs. 450/kg.

Replying to a question, Mr Shah said that his government has no ample resources to subsidise food items the whole year. 'Yes, we are working hard to stabilize the prices in the market,' he said.

Talking about minimum wage, the chief minister said that on the advice of PPP leadership he had announced Rs25,000 minimum wage but the federal government of PTI had resisted the move. 'To me Rs25,000 are not enough for a worker to feed his five-member family the whole month but even then, it was a little relief,' he said and added he was happy that new Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif in his first speech on the floor of national assembly announced Rs25,000 minimum wage which was an endorsement of his government decision.

The CM said that the unfortunate and painful incident of fire in village Faiz Chandio, taluka Mehar, District Dadu claimed nine lives.

'This was a tragic incident,' he said and added he has got the assessment of the damages which come to around Rs.33 million. 'I had personally visited the unfortunate village and met with the affected family,' he said and added that he had announced a Rs500,000 compensation for lost life and Rs200,000 for an...