Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has sought proposals for shutting down the state-owned Utility Stores Corporation (USC) and replace it with a new system, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The prime minister also called for proposals within two weeks for an alternative system in place of the Utility Stores.

The government was mulling to give cash amounts to BISP consumers of the Utility Stores.

In the meanwhile, the Utility Stores have stopped sale of subsidized items to the BISP consumers.

Meanwhile, Federal Industry and Production Secretary Saif Anjum confirmed that the government has decided to wrap up the Utility Stores.

Speaking in the meeting of Senate Standing Committee for Industry and Production in Islamabad on Friday, the secretary said the federal governing is mulling to close down the Utility Stores under its right-sizing policy.

The decisions of the right-sizing committee will be forwarded to the federal cabinet, he said and added, the industry and production ministry will frame action plan for implementing this decision.

The work is also under way on a package for the employees, the secretary said, adding the workers may also be sent to other departments.

He said the government wanted to get rid of “unnecessary business”. The spirit of competition is dampened when the government announces relief at Utility Stores, he added.

Complete shutterdown announced

All the three unions of Utility Stores workers slammed the government’s decision to close down USC and announced a complete strike and sit-in at D-Chowk from August 26.

The workers unions said the protest sit-in will continue until the Utility Stores are restored and acceptance of their demands.

The Utility Stores Corporation is a state-owned enterprise that was founded in 1971 and which operates chain stores throughout the country that provide basic commodities to the general public at prices which are lower than the open market because the government subsidizes them.

It approximately has nearly 15,000 employees and 5,939 store outlets across Pakistan.

It may be mentioned here that the government had already decided to abolish five federal ministries. The ministries on the chopping block were Information Technology, Kashmir Affairs, Science and Technology, Industry and Production, and Health Services.

Later, after having second thoughts, the government had decided not to abolish the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination. Some departments under the ministry will be merged instead and the ministry will be right-sized.

The ministry will coordinate with international organizations and provinces to improve healthcare services. The government is also considering transferring employees of merged departments to other departments.

The National Emergency Health Services will be merged with the National Health Institute and the Sheikh Zayed Hospital in Lahore will be handed over to the Punjab government, it was reported.

Reporters Waqas Azeem and Babar Shahzad Turk