Survey finds quality of commodities available at USC outlets 'substandard'

Utility stores in rural areas and those away from major urban markets spotted inadequate stores of the five commodities that the cabinet decided to subsidize through an injection of Rs 2 billion per month, an anecdotal survey carried out by Business Recorder revealed here on Wednesday.

The survey noted a few if any customers outside the utility stores in and around the city centre and posed the question from nearby residents as to why this was so. Ninety percent of the respondents stated that the quality available in the utility stores was substandard, especially wheat, and some cited that the old and the very young were falling ill after consuming the items procured from utility stores. Pulses are being sold in utility stores at market rates.

The survey further observed that utility stores located away from city centres were selling general items, not the five that are to be sold at subsidized rates, and those too at market rates.

This scribe asked a utility store manager about the shortage of cooking oil, the manager said that the USC management has an agreement with the ghee/cooking oil mill, Meezan, but the company has stopped supplying its product to the Utility stores. When asked why Meezan has stopped selling to Utility stores, the manager said he was not aware of the reason but added: "we are stocking ghee from another company, the same quality as Meezan, however, customers want to purchase Meezan and when we inform them we do not stock Meezan anymore they just leave."

The manager added that the notification for the new subsidized rates for the five essential commodities - wheat, rice, sugar, cooking oil, pulses - has not reached the stores.

Meanwhile Managing Director Utility Stores Corporation (USC) Umar Lodhi on Wednesday denounced the rumours about increase in ghee and sugar prices at utility stores, saying that it was a suggestion tabled before the federal cabinet but not approved.

He said that sugar and ghee will continue selling at Rs 68 per kg and Rs 170 per kg respectively, the rumours are baseless and no notification in this regard has been issued.

He further said the government has planned to open two thousand more Utility Stores in different parts of the country with its extended timing and fixed rate commodities to provide relief for middle income and lower income people through their countrywide network.

He said the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) would also provide subsidy on 19 essential commodities during Ramazan and the corporation has increased the working hours of all utility stores countrywide, adding, stores would remain open from 10Am to 11 Pm, he added. Smooth supply of all commodities across the country would be ensured, he assured.

The staff of the stores has been asked to observe the timings strictly so that people could benefit themselves in next five months till Ramazan with this relief package announced by the government, he mentioned.

He explained under the Kamyab Jawan Programme, youth would be able to open their own 'Karyana stores' in different cities and towns where the employment opportunities for youth would be increased and stores would facilitate our common people.

The USC would ensure delivery of basic items at affordable prices to the poorest section of society because this was one of the present government's top priorities, he added.

He said that ration cards would soon be provided to the deserving families so that they could buy essential edible items at subsidized rates.

He praised that the Prime minister Minister Imran Khan has approved a relief package for the Utility Stores across the country which would bring the price of regular use commodity items down considerably.

He made it clear that there was no shortage of essential food items at USC outlets, but if there was any issue in any USC branch so that it would be addressed soon.

Utility Store would fulfil its promise of providing essential commodities to the general public at cheaper and subsidized rates, he added.