Aseefa Bhutto to raise utility stores closure issue in National Assembly

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Aseefa Bhutto Zardari has assured the employees of the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) that she will raise the issue of the company’s closure in the National Assembly.

According to the 24NewsHD TV channel, the USC Union office bearers met with Aseefa Bhutto Zardari to brief her on the problems faced by workers following the shutdown of the state-owned enterprise. 

During the meeting, she pledged to highlight their concerns in parliament.

Union representatives expressed gratitude to Aseefa Bhutto and the PPP for taking notice of their plight, while also urging the government to immediately release employees’ salaries and pending dues.

The development comes after the USC formally ceased nationwide operations on July 31 in line with an earlier deadline set for closing the 1971-established SOE, which had been providing essential goods at subsidised rates to low-income households through over 4,000 retail outlets.

According to official notifications from the Ministry of Industries and Production, the decision followed directives from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on June 28 and a board of directors’ meeting earlier in the month. 

All sales and purchases have been halted, except for the transfer of stock to warehouses, returns to vendors, and inventory handovers. Sales through the Odoo business-management suite have also been permanently discontinued.

Reporter: Bilal Niazi