950825

Low-priced

ghee not

available at

Utility Stores

NAYYAR ZUBERI

KARACHI: Tin packs of ghee meant for sale at subsidized rates at Utility Stores have vanished from the shelves.

This correspondent visited over 10 Utility Stores. Not a single tin of Eagle or Malta brand ghee was available anywhere.

The government had fixed the sale price of these two brands at Rs 155 per 5 kg tin and Rs 77.50 per 2.5 kg tin in order to provide ghee to middle and low-income groups at subsidized rates.

Managers at the Utility Stores said that these two brands of ghee are in great demand. That is why they are always in short supply.

Another version explaining their shortage is that the government has distributed a large quantity of ghee among those affected by the floods.

Customers of Utility Stores, on their part, complain that these two brands of ghee are not available because the store managers sell them in the black market, availing of the advantage of the price differential.

The brands of ghee available in sufficient quantities at Utility Stores are those that cost around Rs 200 to Rs 225 per 5 kg tin and Rs 100 to Rs 115 per 2.5 kg tin, depending on make and brand of ghee.