05/03/2010 (Daily Times), Karachi - Taking advantage of enhanced prices of palm oil in the international market, Utility Stores Corporation (USC) has made an upward revision in the prices of ghee and cooking oil at all its 140 outlets in Karachi like elsewhere across the country.

It may be recalled that the corporation announced a similar increase a few months ago, which had been attributed for the same reason by the high officials of the USC.

The increase, which came into affect from Thursday, would serve as a financial blow to an overwhelming number of consumers of the USC majority of which hail from the poor segment of the population.

The increase was announced with a ratio of Rs 2 per kilogramme (kg) on Manpasand ghee and cooking oil, which would now be available to buyers at Rs 112 per kg as compared to old price of Rs 110 for the same weight.

“Both Utility brand ghee and oil are supplied by the Dalda Company to the corporation and following upward revision in the rates of both the products we had no choice but to pass the increased rates on to the consumers,” claimed an official of the corporation while replying to a query of the scribe.

Another increase was made in the rates of 5kg tin of Dalda brand of ghee and Dalda oil which after the recent upward revision would now be available at Rs 685 per tin as compared with old price of Rs 660 per tin indicating an increase of Rs 25 per 5kg of ghee and cooking oil tins.

Similarly a 5kg tin of Golden Sun brand cooking oil and ghee, which was previously sold to consumers from USC outlets at Rs 590 would now be available at Rs 628 for the same tin manifesting an increase of up to Rs 38 per 5kg tin.

“The USC was established by the government with the sole objective of provision of subsidised commodities to the general consumers but on the contrary it has assumed the role of greedy retailers who never hesitate to pass on the burden of any increase in the rates of essential commodities,” claimed a panicked buyer at a USC outlet situated at Block N, North Nazimabad.

At another outlet situated off Nishtar Road, enraged buyers blamed the government for its failure to provide essential commodities to them at subsidised rates saying their squeezing purchasing powers restrict them from buying even one kg of the ghee or cooking oil packet.

A senior official of the USC Mohammad Riaz termed the fresh increase on account of compelling circumstances claiming that consumers would continue receiving heavy subsidy on sugar which is available at all outlets at Rs 45 per kg as compared to open market’s rates ranging from Rs 65 per kg to Rs 75 per kg.