One thousand more utility stores will be opened in different parts of the country to ensure the provision of essential commodities to consumers at controlled rates.
This announcement was made by the Managing Director, Utility Stores Corporation, Khaqan Murtaza in an interview with Radio Pakistan.
He said that a proposal detailing the expansion of utility outlets has been forwarded to the concerned quarters for approval. Currently 6017 utility outlets including franchise stores are operational across the country.
The managing director said that his corporation has‚ to a great extent‚ implemented the government’s plan to establish utility outlets in every union council. “In Punjab‚ we have a presence in 68 percent union councils‚ Sindh 76 percent‚ Khyber Pakhtunkhawa 83 percent‚ Balochistan 70 percent‚ Azad Kashmir 75 percent‚ Gilgit Baltistan 80 percent and Islamabad 86 percent.” He added that local people are recruited to run the stores.
Responding to a question‚ Khaqan Murtaza said the Utility Stores Corporation has also set up mega stores in big cities including Karachi‚ Lahore and Islamabad‚ where customers could buy all items of daily use under one roof. Mega stores have proven to be successful in some cities. Similarly‚ we have set up mini markets in some cities to meet the demands of customers.
The managing director said the Utility Stores Corporation is providing good quality items to its customers as it directly procures commodities from the companies or the importers.
Khaqan Murtaza said we have also further reduced the prices of pulses by ten to fifteen percent despite the fact that ninety percent of pulses are imported from other countries. He said the corporation is earning a profit of eight hundred million rupees annually.
