KHAR: All outlets of Utility Stores Corporation in Bajaur tribal district have been without essential commodities for last four months, Dawn learnt here on Monday.

Consumers told this correspondent on Monday all the five USC outlets, two in Khar and one each in Inayat Kallay, Sadiqabad and Reggan, were short of both the food and non-food items.

They said that they had been visiting the USC outlets since the start of Ramazan, but returned empty-handed. They also accused the USC officials of misbehaving with them.

The consumers complained that the government’s claim of giving special discount on essential items at the utility stores under the Ramazan package was only an eyewash.

Qiyas Khan, a resident of Khar town, said he was unable to get even a single bottle of prickle in the utility store in Khar.

Rustam Khan of Salarzai said he usually bought food items from the utility store outlet in the area during Ramazan because of discounted rates, but this time around the outlet was short of both the food and non-food items.

Jandool Khan of Dabar area of Mamond also complained about shortage of essential items in the local USC outlet.

The consumers lamented that Prime Minister Imran Khan had announced relief on hundreds of essential items in the utility stores during Ramazan, but to no avail.

A USC official said all the outlets in Bajaur had been without essential food and non-food items since the regional office stopped supply commodities four months ago.

He said USC officials in Peshawar, Nowshera and Dir offices had assured a month ago that supply of food and non-food items would be ensured to the Bajaur outlets two days before the start of Ramazan, but to no avail.

Published in Dawn, May 14th, 2019