ISLAMABAD; The Utility Store Corporation (USC) on Saturday opened -up a new floodgate of pricehike by upward revising the rates of all household items.
It increased ghee / cooking oil prices by Rs 97 a kg. Likewise, the rates of other kitchen items have been increased from Rs 10 to Rs 50 per pack.
With the new upward revision, the price of tea has gone -up by Rs 40 per 400 mg pack, red chilli powder Rs 10 a 100 mg pack. The essential items which became costlier are in dozens and USC act of increasing prices of essential items was going to make the people’s lives more miserable. The people are already moaning under unbearable pricebike and the recent increase in the rates of daily use will leave in total limbo.
USC, instead of working as a useful tool to discouarge monoplisation of the private sector and ensuring availability of essential items to the consumers at reasonable price, is working as an engine to increase rates of household and other essential item in the open market.
USC was created by the government to have a parallel system to control prices of essential items in the open market, but it has proven otherwise. In particular, in Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) rule, USC has become one of the most corrupt departments. Its procurement has mostly been non-transparent. Since, USC is being headed by a PTI guy who claims himself a close friend of prime minister, Imran Khan, the allegations of corruption and malpractices remained above any inquiry or action so far.