ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Industries and Production Rana Tanveer Hussain has dismissed reports suggesting that the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) is slated for closure.
The minister’s assurances came during a meeting with a delegation from the USC, which included the Managing Director and the Secretary for Industries and Production.
He also that protecting the interests of government employees remains a priority, and any restructuring will involve consultations with all relevant stakeholders.
Mr Tanveer outlined that while no plans are in place to shut down the USC, the government is exploring various options for its restructuring. This includes devising a new subsidy mechanism to enhance transparency.
He affirmed that no unilateral actions will be taken to dissolve the USC, and all decisions will be made in collaboration with employees and other stakeholders to ensure their interests are safeguarded.
Following these assurances, USC employees decided to end their sit-in protest, which had been ongoing since August 26 at D Chowk. The protest was sparked by a federal cabinet decision to potentially close the USC.
The demonstrators had been expressing their discontent and concern over job security, with plans to resume their sit-in if the closure decision was not retracted.
In response to the protest, authorities had sealed off the area with containers to prevent access to the red zone.
Founded in 1971, the Utility Stores Corporation operates approximately 4,000 stores nationwide, aimed at providing essential goods to the public at discounted prices.
