ABBOTTABAD: Almost all outlets of Utility Stores Corporation (USC) in Abbottabad district are giving a deserted look due to non-availability of food and non-food items, complained locals here on Friday.

They said the people had welcomed the PTI government’s decision to provide food items to the consumers on subsidised rates, but they were disappointed at finding that the utility stores outlets were completely empty of essential items.

Abdul Shakoor, a schoolteacher, said he was able to get only dates at one of the six outlets he visited in the city, adding essential food items were missing from the outlets.

Meanwhile, USC employees took out a procession in Abbottabad city on Friday and also observed a shutter down strike to show resentment over the arrest of the employees’ union president in Islamabad.

They also demanded sufficient supply of food stuff to the local outlets to provide relief to the people during Ramazan.

Published in Dawn, May 11th, 2019