Utility Stores Corporation
ISLAMABAD: The Economic Coordination Committee of the Cabinet today approved Rs 985 million for the Utility Stores Corporation to give free-of-cost atta (flour) to millions of needy people.
The USC provided atta to poor people under the Prime Minister’s Free Atta Scheme launched during the month of Ramazan this year.
Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar chaired the meeting of the ECC of the Cabinet.
Federal Minister for Industries and Production Makhdoom Syed Murtaza Mehmood, Coordinator to the PM on Economy Bilal Azhar Kayani attended the meeting. Federal Secretaries and other senior officers also participated in the ECC meeting.
The ECC considered a summary of the Ministry of Industries and Production on the provision of free Atta.
The USC spent Rs 985 million on this scheme in the last financial year 2022-23. The Utility Stores Corporation launched the scheme on 18th March 2023 and continued it till 16th April 2023.
NEPRA notifies a record hike in power tariff
Moreover, the NEPRA notified a record tariff hike of up to Rs7.50 per unit to meet a condition of the IMF and appease the federal government.
NEPRA said that the new tariffs would come into effect from July 1, 2023.
Nepra Tower Islamabad held a public hearing on the matter on Monday (July 24). During hearing, NEPRA approved the federal government’s application for the tariff hike.
The power ministry, in the hearing, submitted that the increase requested through the “Instant Motion” aligns with NEPRA’s overall revenue requirement.
Despite the proposed increase, the government would still be providing a subsidy of Rs158 billion, according to the notification.
Last Saturday, the federal cabinet authorized the significant increase in the base tariff of electricity.
The tariff is set to increase up to Rs7.50 per unit, in contrast to the national average tariff determination of Rs4.96.
