FAISALABAD, May 10: Brig Hafeez Ahmad (retired), the Utility Stores Corporation managing director, has floated the idea of involving industrialists in the project by establishing special outlets of the corporation in factories.

These outlets are proposed to supply consumer goods to the industrial workers at cheaper rates.

Speaking to industrialists and traders at the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Wednesday, the USC chief said his organisation was ready to set up special outlets identical to fare-price shops of the industrial units so that a good number of workers could be supplied the kitchen articles at affordable rates.

He asked the factory owners to come up with suggestions so that the proposal could be implemented on the basis of rent-free sites. “We have established some identical shops, which are being run successfully and this pilot project can be expanded in the country with the active support of the factory owners.”

He said the USC had also planned to set up special counters for the display and sale of textile products in their outlets for which the renowned textile companies had been asked to share their comments. A plan was also under discussion to constitute advisory committee comprising non-political persons for the monitoring of outlets.

He said a transparent and fair accountability system had been introduced and 41 employees faced the music during last year on the complaints of consumers.

He claimed that a relief of Rs4,348 million had been given to the consumers in prices of various articles, including sugar and wheat-flour, which was a major achievement of the corporation. Around 90 per cent increase had been witnessed during the last one year in the sale of USC outlets in the country, he added.