First mobile utility store inaugurated in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar inaugurated a mobile utility store in Islamabad on Friday.

The federal minister, regarding the inauguration of the store, said that during the first phase there will be eight mobile utility stores in the federal capital.

In the second phase, the mobility stores will be expanded to different parts of the country, Umar continued.

He said that Prime Minister Imran Khan had expressed a wish to provide deserving families items of daily use.

The federal minister informed that the mobile utility stores have been put in place to provide items to the poor families.

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“Flour, lentils and ghee (oil) will be provided at every street on lesser rates,” he said, adding that the government will ensure that the supply of basic items is not disrupted.

The minister said that the decision to open these stores came under the prime minister’s relief package for the coronavirus.

“For the ease of the general public, a Rs50 billion package was approved,” he added.

Meanwhile, Managing Director Utility Stores Umar Lodhi said that there are 4,000 utility stores across the country. He said that this was a low number. 

“We are launching mobile utility stores for far-flung areas,” he said, adding that all the items from the Ramzan relief package will be available in the stores.

As for the operational aspect, Lodhi said that it will be announced through local mosques if a mobile store is in the vicinity.

He said that the measure came to increase access of people to the utility stores and necessary items.

While reflecting on the strict lockdown across the country, Umar said that the ease in restrictions will come after consultation with the prime minister and provinces.

A day ago, MD Lodhi claimed that a sufficient stock of sugar, wheat, flour, rice, ghee, and pulses was available with the corporation and on receiving complaints of shortage of such items, strict action will be taken to resolve the problems immediately, reported APP.

As per the report, Lodhi further said that precautionary measures had been made necessary to protect working staff as well as the buying consumers from the deadly virus.

Earlier, the federal cabinet had reviewed and approved a Rs1.2-trillion economic relief package announced by the prime minister. The relief package came due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.