Aseefa Bhutto urges govt to revisit closure of Utility Stores
PPP leader and First Lady Aseefa Bhutto Zardari has voiced serious concerns over the closure of the Utility Stores Corporation, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
Speaking in the National Assembly session on Wednesday, Aseefa Bhutto urged the government to reconsider the decision.
In response, Federal Minister for Industries and Production Rana Tanveer Hussain informed the House that the closure of Utility Stores Corporation (USC) was part of a phased restructuring process approved by a Cabinet Committee on Right-Sizing, aimed at improving efficiency and reducing losses.
In response to a point raised by Aseefa Bhutto on point of order, he said that in initial step loss-making outlets were shut down besides releasing daily-wage staff. However, a separate package was formulated for contractual and regular employees to ensure their financial security, he said.
The minister said, “Permanent staff will be adjusted where possible, and those availing the package will receive payments running into billions of rupees as part of their severance”.
متعلقہ وزیر نے اس قومی اسمبلی میں کھڑے ہو کر اپنے حکومتی اتحادیوں سے وعدہ کیا تھا کہ وہ ان یوٹیلیٹی اسٹورز کو بند نہیں کریں گے، پھر یہ ایشو کمیٹی کو بھیجا گیا تھا، کمیٹی نے بھی ہمیں یقین دہانی کرائی تھی کہ یوٹیلیٹی اسٹور بند نہیں کیئے جائیں گے۔ میں کابینہ اور حکومت وقت سے درخواست… pic.twitter.com/lPRlhyqpj3
— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) August 13, 2025
The minister said that the government was shifting towards direct cash transfers through a digital wallet system, citing the Rs20 billion Ramazan Package as an example where beneficiaries received funds directly instead of standing in long queues at USC. “By providing cash, people can buy items of their choice rather than being restricted to a limited range of products,” he said.
Rana Tanveer said that protests had taken place over the closures, including a sit-in. On the Prime Minister’s directions, Special Assistants to the Prime Minister Haroon Akhtar and Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah held talks with representatives of USC and they reached at some understandings.
He assured that house that a meeting with the relevant stakeholders could be arranged to discuss the matter further.
Rana Tanveer said he was ready to coordinate with parliamentary committees and relevant ministries, including the Interior Ministry, to review recommendations and forward them to the Cabinet for consideration.
افسوس کے ساتھ کہنا پڑ رہا ہے کہ یوٹیلیٹی اسٹور بند کیئے جارہے ہیں اور لاکھوں لوگ اب بے روزگار ہیں اور اس کے نتیجے میں ان کے خاندانوں کو شدید مشکلات کا سامنا ہے یہ صریح ناانصافی ہے اور ہم حکومت سے واضح جواب کا مطالبہ کرتے ہیں۔
— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) August 13, 2025
خاتون اول اور رکن قومی اسمبلی بی بی آصفہ بھٹو زرداری… pic.twitter.com/anFQnbP6gX
PAC takes notice of USC closure
The issue of closure of utility stores has reached Public Accounts Committee (PAC) after National Assembly and the committee took notice of the matter.
According to sources, the issue of closure of utility stores will be considered in the next meeting of the Public Accounts Committee on August 20.
The PAC has also summoned the heads of the relevant institutions to the meeting.
The PPP also supported the position of the Chairman PAC on the closure of utility stores.
Federal govt sponsoring 18 dam projects
The National Assembly was informed that the federal government is sponsoring eighteen dam projects with a total cost of 1036.069 billion rupees to enhance water storage capacity.
Minister for Water Resources Muhammad Mueen Wattoo told the house during question hour that these projects, upon completion, will provide a cumulative storage capacity of approximately 8,231,984-acre feet, bringing 346,447 acres of new land under irrigation. He noted Diamer Basha Dam alone will store 6.4 million-acre feet of water.
The Minister for Water Resources said provincial governments are also sponsoring the construction of seventy-seven dam projects at an estimated cost of 89.243 billion rupees.
Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi told the house that Pakistan Railways has taken several initiatives for the restoration of old rail routes and enhancement of rail connectivity.
He said feasibility study for rail connectivity with Afghanistan through Kohat-Thal-Kharlachi has been completed and land acquisition is under progress.
He said feasibility study and transaction advisory services for new rail link from Gwadar to Nokkundi is near completion. He said land acquisition for rail connectivity from Gwadar to Mastung and Besima to Jacobabad is under progress. He said railway stations are being upgraded for the facilitation of passengers.
Hanif Abbasi told the house that Pakistan Railways is currently in the final stages of outsourcing two hundred freight wagons to the private sector to address the growing demands of industrial and energy sectors.
Minister for Maritime Affairs Junaid Anwar told the house that it is the first time that a license has been issued to a private company for ferry service. He stated the company will run ferry operations between KPT and Gwadar, as well as to Iran, Iraq, and Abu Dhabi. He said we are open for issuing more ferry licenses.
Responding to a calling attention notice, Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz said the bidding process for forty offshore oil and gas blocks in Pakistan is currently underway. He said this process will be completed by the end of October this year. He said different countries including Turkiye, China, Kuwait and the US have expressed interest in these offshore blocks.
Ali Pervaiz said that we awarded thirteen onshore blocks in the month of April this year while the process of awarding 23 more onshore blocks has been rolled out. He also highlighted the efforts being made to harness the potential of tight and shale oil and gas.
Strict action against illegal occupants of govt housing units
Minister for Housing and Works Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada informed the National Assembly that strict legal action was being taken against illegal occupants of government housing units besides recovery of rent from them in Karachi.
Responding to a question during Question Hour, the minister said that the ministry has also registered FIRs against illegal occupants adding that Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and Intelligence Bureau (IB) have also been engaged besides seeking support from provincial governments and law enforcement agencies. “In Sindh, we are working with the provincial police and Rangers to clear encroachments, with pension benefits withheld until recoveries are made,” he added.
Replying to another query, he said that in certain cases, High Court directives had also been implemented to expedite the eviction process and enforce accountability.
The minister reaffirmed his commitment to transparency, adherence to rules, and full cooperation with provincial administrations to protect public assets and address grievances related to official housing.
Ports operating profitably despite partial capacity use
Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry on Wednesday apprised the National Assembly that Pakistan’s ports were operating profitably despite currently running at around 50 per cent of their handling capacity, with multiple initiatives under way to expand utilization and boost revenue.
Responding to a question during Question Hour, the minister clarified that ports acted as facilitators for cargo handling and their utilization depended directly on the country’s import and export volumes. “It is correct that ports like Karachi Port and Port Qasim are presently operating at partial capacity, but they remain in profit. Once trade volumes rise, full capacity will be engaged,” he said.
He also informed the House that, for the first time in Pakistan’s history, a licence had been issued to a private company to operate passenger ferry services. “More operators are showing interest, and routes will include domestic services between Karachi Port and Gwadar, as well as international routes to Iran, Iraq and Abu Dhabi,” he added.
While replying to another question, the minister said the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) had been functioning without a permanent chairman for over a year, with advertisements issued thrice to fill the post. “The process was completed twice under the required mechanism, but objections were raised at the approval stage. The selection process is being undertaken again, and in the meantime, the Commander of the Pakistan Navy at KPT is holding additional charge,” he said.
On Gwadar Port operations, the minister acknowledged that traffic was limited compared to its potential but noted that fertilizer ships for Afghanistan’s transit trade had recently been handled there.
He said trans-shipment from Karachi to Gwadar was commercially unviable due to the 600-kilometre inland transport distance, but efforts were being made to attract local industry to Gwadar’s industrial zone to generate direct cargo flows.
Regarding marine pollution, the minister said the Karachi Port Trust and other ports were contributing to prevention measures but needed full cooperation from the Sindh government to stop untreated sewage and industrial waste from entering the sea.
He said that discussions had been held with the Sindh chief minister, who had given a positive response, and the ministry would continue to work.
Reporters Rozina Ali and Usman Khan