FAISALABAD: The Utility Stores of Corporation (USC) Pakistan’s high-ups have been been informed by the management of its local outlets that they were losing customers trust because of higher rates of basic daily-use items like flour, sugar and pulses etc as compared to open market.

In a letter sent to the higher management of the USC, D-Ground outlet Manager Mr Shahabuddin, pointed out higher prices of various commodities at the local outlets and to corroborate his claim, attached a bill of a private shop with it, mentioning that there was a difference ranging from Rs7 to Rs39 in the prices of basic utilities.

He mentioned in the letter that the total bill of 14 items purchased from open market was Rs2,352 while that of the same products bought at the utility store was Rs2,661.

He apprehended that because of the higher prices, customers were not likely to visit the USC outlets for purchase of daily-use items.

The manager mentioned in the letter that he had first approached the USC Faisalabad regional manager with an application in which he raised the prices issue, but he was told to directly approach the managing director.

He said on May 21 last, he approached USC managing director with a request to improve the purchase department of the corporation so that rates could brought down to restore customer confidence.

Sources told Dawn that a number of USC outlets in Faisalabad were also facing shortage of flour, sugar and pulses.

Prime Minister Imran Khan recently announced a special Rs7 billion relief package through 4,000 USC outlets to provide basic food items and commodities to the salaried and lower and middle income groups at subsidised rates across the country.

Presently, the local USC warehouse wears a deserted look as its racks are empty.

The sources said the USC had tasked its officials with visiting different regions to check the stock status so that the PM’s package could be implemented effectively.

Akram Elahi, who had been purchasing daily-use items from the USC outlets, complained about the quality of the subsidised products, saying that he had now stopped visiting the outlets.

Published in Dawn, January 11th, 2020