ISLAMABAD, June 18: The decision of the government to increase the number of utility stores in the country from 1,000 to 5,000 will go a long way in providing items of daily use to common people at reasonable prices.

Federal Minister for Industries, Production and Special Initiatives Mr Jahangir Khan Tareen said this while chairing a meeting to review the expansion plan of the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) on Monday.

USC’s managing-director gave a detailed presentation and said the expansion would commence on June 24.

He said the expansion would be completed in three phases. In the first phase (June 24 to July 30), 1,000 stores would be opened. In the second phase (August 1 to September 30), 1,500 stores would be opened and the remaining 2,500 stores would be opened in the third phase by November 30.

The minister on the occasion directed that the plan must ensure coverage in uncovered areas, especially the urban Katchi Abadis and rural areas, to cater to the lower income groups.

Mr Tareen said the new stores would be fairly distributed in various districts across the country. Secretary MoIP&SI Shahab Khawaja, MD USC Brig (retired) Hafeez Ahmad and other senior officials also attended the meeting.