ISLAMABAD, Sept 28: Utility Stores Corporation (USC) would provide a relief of over Rs1 billion to its customers in the shape of discount on prices of daily use items under its Ramazan relief package.

“Of this amount, Rs650 million subsidy was given by the government, while USC was able to get concession of almost an equal amount from its vendors,” USC Managing Director Brig (Retd) Hafiz Ahmed told a news conference on Thursday.

The Ramazan package of the USC, introduced three days before the commencement of the holy month, offers 15-20 per cent discount on most of the items.

Brig Hafiz mentioning the success of the package said bigger stores run by the corporation were recording sales of over Rs1 million a day. Similar trend has been witnessed at all stores across the country, and sales on the whole have increased four times.

Special emphasis, the USC chief said, was being placed on quality control, monitoring and availability of full range of products at the stores. “I can assure you that all products are available at the stores at all times, but on certain occasions one or the other product may temporarily fall short and it has been ensured that such items are replenished immediately.”

Comparing the prices at the USC stores and the rest of the market, Brig Hafiz said, flour is available at Rs11 per kilo against market price of Rs13 per kilo. Sugar was being sold at Rs27.50 per kilo, whereas in the market it was available at Rs 35 per kilo. The stores were giving Rs6 and Rs10 per kilo discount on ghee and pulses respectively.

“We have been able to attract the customers, who previously did the purchasing from common retailers,” he remarked while speaking about the increase in the clientele of the USC.

Regarding the outreach of the USC, he said, besides the regular outlets, selling points were established in Sasta Bazars. “We have now set up stores in Fata with the support of political agents, who provide security for the stores.”

Customer convenience, the USC chief said, was a priority for the management and it has been studied that a customer on average takes a maximum of 30 minutes to complete shopping at a utility store. Complaints against USC employees, he said, were properly looked into and so far services of about 100 employees have been terminated.

He clarified that sale of none of the items is tied up with the purchasing of other products. “Consumers can buy whatever they wish,” he added.

The USC, he said, had earned a profit of about Rs440 million during the last fiscal year ending June 2006.

However, the MD played down the profit saying it was quite meagre and being a non-profit entity it had used that profit to provide further relief to its customers.