The Utility Stores Corporation (USC) is committed to providing the general public necessities at fair prices that are lower than open market pricing. A spokesperson for the USC stated in a statement, which is available with WealthPK, that while the stores offer high-quality goods at reduced prices, the costs of some branded goods have been raised to assure continuous supply at all utility stores across the nation. Local and international businesses that provide goods to utility retailers have raised the cost of a number of products. For the previous seven months, he added, the pricing remained constant at utility stores.

He said that the USC does not create or develop goods on its own; instead it purchases them from reputable, nationally recognised brands. "Prices need to be adjusted as the cost of the product rises along with the price of raw materials, production costs, and transportation costs. The availability of these items is conceivable as the demand and supply balance out,” he said.

He said that the new utility store rates for these products are still less expensive than those on the open market. All utility stores, he added, offered subsidised ghee for Rs300 per kg, sugar for Rs70 per kg, and 20kg bags of wheat for Rs800. He said that rice and legumes are also subject to subsidies. Apart from this, hundreds of other branded items are available at the utility stores at rates lower than those of the general market, he said.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk