By IANS
Islamabad : In what has been described as a “poverty driven measure”, the Pakistani government will introduce ration cards from next month to provide essential food items at subsidised rates to people of low-income groups.
The decision was taken at a meeting convened Wednesday by caretaker Prime Minister Mohammedmian Soomro to review the performance of the Utility Stores Corporation (USC), which is meant to provide clean and hygienic food and non-food items to people especially to poor section of the society at cheaper rates.
The prime minister also constituted a committee to gather data about people of the low-income groups from all over the country, Dawn reported Thursday.
With the launching of the ration card scheme, the prime minister said, the poor segments of society would be able to get essential food items including wheat, edible oil, rice, sugar and pulses, whose prices have been soaring in recent months, at reasonable rates.
“This is a poverty driven measure,” the prime minister said of the scheme to be introduced from Feb 8, adding that the ration cards would be issued only to low-income people unable to buy essential commodities from the open market.
The prime minister also appreciated a proposal put forward by the USC to provide clean drinking water at their outlets at reduced price.
He also directed the USC to expand its network all over the country, particularly in rural areas, to cater to the needs of people with low income. He also stressed the need for involving provincial governments and ensuring their active participation in the poverty eradication measure.