After holding a sit-in protest and voicing their concerns over the possible closure of the Utility Stores Corporation (USC), the employees have decided to end their protest. The decision came after Federal Minister for Industries and Production, Rana Tanveer Hussain, assured the employees that there are no plans to shut down the USC.
During a meeting with USC employees, the minister emphasized the government’s commitment to keeping the Utility Stores operational. He stated, “There is no plan to close the Utility Stores Corporation. We are focusing on restructuring the organisation to improve efficiency.”
The employees announced the conclusion of their protest after receiving confirmation that a subsidy of Rs50 billion under the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) and an additional Rs10 billion Ramazan package allocated in the budget would be provided. Additionally, Rana Tanveer agreed to form a committee to oversee the restructuring of the USC, ensuring that employees have a say in the process through representatives from all unions.
The minister affirmed, “We will protect the interests of all government employees. All decisions will be made with the consultation of the employees and other stakeholders.”
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These assurances have brought relief to the employees, who had been concerned about the potential impact on their jobs and benefits due to the government’s rightsizing initiative. The protest was launched following the announcement of the government’s decision to close utility stores nationwide, which would have affected millions of low-income families who rely on discounted essential goods.
The recent Senate Standing Committee meeting also confirmed the government’s consideration of shutting down utility stores as part of a right-sizing initiative, raising concerns among USC employees and the public.
