LAHORE - SALMAN ABDUHU - The trickledown effect of reduction in sales tax in import duty on different items in Federal budget 2012-13 started appearing at retail level, as the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) has announced to further slash prices of over 200 kitchen items.
The new prices will immediately effect on all Utility Stores throughout the country.
USC officials said that corporation has provided relief to public by reducing rates of all ghee and cooking oil brands by Rs5 to Rs15. In the same way, the prices of all verities of tea have also been cut by Rs10 to Rs55 subject to their weight and brand. However some items particularly spices’ rates have been raised.
Officials said that Utility Stores Corporation reduced price of Dalda cooking oil of 5kg by Rs15 to Rs1005 while Dalda ghee of same weight has also been slashed by Rs15 to RS1015. Rate of Kisan ghee of 5kg was cut by Rs20 to Rs920.
Officials said that rates of almost all ghee brands and varieties, which amount to almost 100, have been decreased.
It is to be noted that corporation, earlier on 14th of this month had reduced prices of USC’s own brand of cooking oil and ghee by Rs4 per kilogram. According to the new reduced prices, the ghee will be available at Rs160 per kg instead of Rs164 per kg, whereas cooking oil will be available for Rs162 per kg after decrease of Rs4 per kg.
Sources in USC said that further decrease in general items expected in the month of Ramazan. Rate of Yellow Lable tea of 190 gram has been cut down by Rs11 to Rs122, Tapal tea of 190 gram rate was reduced by Rs25 to Rs250 and Supreme tea pack of 450 gram was down by Rs25 to Rs273.
In the same way some relief has been announced by cutting rates of beverages, as Jam-e-Sherin of 1.5 litre rate was down by Rs6 to Rs242.  Officials said that the new price lists have been displayed in all outlets of the USC in provincial capital and store managers have been asked to sell all items at the newly-notified rates.
They said that monitoring arrangements of the USC ensures proper supply and distribution of edibles to the end consumers.