The said subsidy, a major relief for the poor and backward segments, will be provided across the country through utility stores.

He also called for the formulation of a strategy to reform the subsidy system in cooperation with the Ministers for Finance, Industries & Production and Poverty Reduction.

The meeting was briefed in detail about the provision of subsidy through utility stores, targeted subsidy for the backward segment, expansion in the number of utility stores across the country and progress on the program providing cheaper wheat flour in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under the vision of the Prime Minister.

It was told that besides 1,380 franchises, the Utility Stores Corporation was directly running 3,822 stores across the country. Over 300 new stores will be opened in Balochistan, Sindh, Azad Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan and Punjab by July 30.

The meeting was told that so far 113 million people have benefitted from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s relief package and got subsidies of Rs. 60 per kg on wheat flour, Rs. 21 on sugar, Rs. 250 on ghee, and Rs. 15 to Rs. 20 on pulses and rice. The digital subsidy system was linked with the data of National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and Ministry of Poverty Reduction.

It was further told that the provision of cheaper wheat flour was being ensured in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa through 942 utility stores. Whereas on the special instructions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif 1000 new sale points and 200 mobile stores were being added.

For that purpose, besides utility stores, mobile stores have also been established in the province to ensure the provision of subsidy in far flung areas.