Sugar, flour shortage at USC.

ISLAMABAD -- People are facing a shortage of daily-use items, particularly flour and sugar, at outlets of the Utility Stores Corporation in different parts of the country.

The government had provided subsidy on basic food commodities including flour, edible oil, sugar, rice and pulses at USC outlets in a bid to provide relief to the poor segment of the society. However, people are facing problems due to shortage of two basic commodities, flour and sugar. Prices of both commodities are reduced as compared to the open market, which resulted in a higher demand and shortage of the commodities.

An official of the Utility Stores Corporation admitted that flour and sugar were short at various outlets in the country. He said that they were making arrangements to ensure the availability of these two items. He said that demand of flour and sugar had increased manifold due to the reduced price. The USC administration was purchasing wheat from Pakistan Agriculture Storage and Services Corporation (PASSCO) in order to reduce the ongoing wheat flour shortage in next couple of days, said the official.

Ministry of Industries and Production, last week, had directed the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) to provide sugar to the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) at a reduced rate to ensure its provision to the consumers at Rs70 per kilogram. The...