Utility stores corporation slashes prices of Ghee, Cooking Oil, other essential items

ISLAMABAD: The Utility Stores Corporation has announced a significant price reduction of over 800 essential items across Pakistan. The price cuts, ranging from Rs 8 to Rs 200, have been implemented immediately.

A 10% discount has been applied to essential items such as ghee, oil, tea, detergent, noodles, ketchup, and tetra-pack milk. Additionally, prices of dry milk, spices, pickles, soap, and toothpaste have been reduced by 10%.

The Utility Stores Corporation has also announced that subsidies under the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) will soon be reinstated through a new mechanism.

In addition, this move is expected to relieve consumers, especially those relying on the BISP subsidies.

In a related development, the government has reversed its decision to shut down the Utility Stores Corporation. Minister for Industries and Production Rana Tanveer Hussain clarified that there are no plans to abolish the state-owned chain of retail outlets.

Instead, options for restructuring the corporation are being explored to enhance transparency, including a new subsidy mechanism. The corporation has also hinted at further price reductions on other items soon.

Earlier, the government of Pakistan announced the nationwide closure of Utility stores that broke violent protests across the country after which the government of Pakistan decided to revise their decision and re-open utility store facilities in Pakistan.