Utility stores out of stock, staff threaten to go on strike

Islamabad: All Pakistan Utility Stores Corporation (USC) Employees Union has warned management to resolve their issues otherwise they along with their families would come to the streets after January 31.

The USC warehouses and outlets particularly in Rawalpindi and Islamabad are without basic commodities like sugar, rice, ghee/cooking oil, pulses, tea, washing powder, tooth pastes, red chilli and even salt is not available.

The 13,700 employees including 3,700 daily wagers in 5,737 USC outlets in the country facing an uncertain situation due to present atmosphere. The future of regular and daily wage employees is at stake while All Pakistan Utility Stores Corporation Union has alleged that government has not paid subsidy amount of Rs28 billions to the departments concerned therefore USC is facing crisis.

The management has denied all allegations of the union. USC Managing Director MD Mutahir Niaz Rana told ‘The News’ that government has already paid subsidy amount to USC and ordered to hold its audit of the stock and finances.

He said, “We are going to meet government officials on January 18 to resolve on-going crisis in the USC and supplies will be restored and consumers will get all items in bulk soon, he claimed.

All Pakistan Utility Stores Corporation Union Senior Vice President Malik Muhammad Ameer said that on the request of management, we have postponed strike call on Monday. The management has assured us that after their meeting with the government officials all issues would be resolved, he said. He alleged that government had not paid subsidy amount of Rs28 billions therefore USC a profitable department is at the brink of disaster. “If government and management failed to take steps to protect this department, we would come to streets on regular basis,” he warned.

Talking to ‘The News’ the customers said that USC outlet is the only ray of hope to get subsidy of some coins for poor. “We could save some coins as there was a little price difference of Rs2 to Rs5 in open market and USC outlets but there is no stock here in stores,” they denounced.