Federal Minister for Industries and Production, Rana Tanveer Hussain, has refuted claims that the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) is facing closure. His reassurance came during a meeting with a delegation from the USC, which included the Managing Director and the Secretary for Industries and Production.
During the meeting, the minister emphasized that safeguarding the interests of government employees remains a top priority. He assured that any potential restructuring of the USC would involve consultations with all relevant stakeholders to ensure a collaborative approach.
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Rana Tanveer clarified that while there are no plans to shut down the USC, the government is considering various restructuring options, including the development of a new subsidy mechanism to improve transparency. He reiterated that no unilateral decisions would be made regarding the dissolution of the USC, and that any changes would be implemented with the full involvement of employees and other stakeholders.
In light of these assurances, USC employees decided to end their sit-in protest, which had been ongoing since August 26 at D Chowk. The protest was initially triggered by a federal cabinet decision that hinted at the possible closure of the USC. The protesters, concerned about job security, had vowed to resume their demonstration if the closure decision was not revoked.
Authorities had previously sealed off the protest area with containers to prevent access to the red zone.
Founded in 1971, the Utility Stores Corporation operates approximately 4,000 stores across the country, providing essential goods to the public at discounted prices.
