LAHORE, May 28: The number of Co-op Stores has declined from around 50 to less than 10.

The stores were started by the West Pakistan Cooperative Consumers Society with Danish assistance in 1969 to sell essential commodities to the people at fair prices and promote the cooperative movement. The then government had promised to pay salaries of the staff.

The stores selling essential commodities under one roof with prices displayed were a success in the beginning. The number of branches increased rapidly as there were no Utility Stores or private super departmental stores. After abolition of One Unit the movement was restricted to the Punjab. The federal government launched the Utility Stores in the 1970s. With the appointment of a civil servant, reinstated after dismissal for corruption, as the managing director, in the 1980s the crisis deepened and regular payment of salaries to the staff was discontinued.

The mismanagement resulted in decline in business and litigation with the landlords who started filing ejectment suits. Thirty-five stores have been closed down as a result.

There are only two stores left outside Lahore — at People’s Colony and Kashmiri Bazaar, Fisalabad — and four in Lahore — at Sadar, Krishan Nagar, GOR and Model Town. Besides there are cosmetics, cut-piece cloth, crockery, grocery, handicrafts, shoes, bed sheets, opticians, watches, electronics and garments shops at the head office. The successful Customs Shop has closed down and the organization is surviving on the rent of shops and a Rs3 million overdraft facility.