Valley
‘Extend fair price shops to ease supply for festivals’
The Parliamentary Finance Committee has directed the government to extend the duration and number of fair price shops opened to ease the supply of daily essentials for the Dashain and Tihar festivals.The Parliamentary Finance Committee has directed the government to extend the duration and number of fair price shops opened to ease the supply of daily essentials for the Dashain and Tihar festivals.
The committee made the decision at a meeting on Tuesday. “The Ministry of Finance has been directed to extend the duration and expand the areas of fair price shops, which were opened in view of the upcoming festivals. It has also been directed to ensure import of quality products at fair price,”
the committee said in a statement.
The government has been operating fair price shops in 48 places across the country since September 28 to ease the supply of goods for the festival season. The fair prices shops, opened in coordination with government institutions and District Administration Offices, will run till November 13.
Fair price shops operated by Salt Trading, Nepal Food Corporation (NFC) and Dairy Development Corporation (DDC) are offering 5 to 10 percent discount on rice, pulses, flour and goats. Salt Trading has been providing 2 percent and 5 percent discount on salt and sugar respectively, while the DDC has been providing Rs50, Rs10 discount on the purchase of ghee per kilo and other milk products. The NFC has been providing Rs 5 discount on Mansuli rice, Japanese rice and cumin. There is a discount of Rs 10 on Basmati rice, Gorakhnath rice, Jumla green beans, Buck Wheat and goats.
Stating that the people have been facing problems due to a steep rise in commodity prices during festivals, the committee has directed the Finance Ministry to draw up necessary laws to curb price hike on essential products.