As many as 350 franchised utility stores have already been opened at various union councils of the country under President's Rozgar Scheme. Managing Director of Utility Stores Corporation of Pakistan Brigadier Hafeez (Retd) told PTV on Monday that licences have also been issued to 150 more franchised stores.
Around 200 applications were under process and soon they would be issued licenses. Moreover, 300 mobile utility stores are working in the far-flung areas of the country. The Utility Stores Corporation (USC) has chalked out an ambitious plan to establish 500 outlets per month during the current calendar year. He said that 5000 more utility stores would be set up in the country during the current financial year.
However the task would be completed much earlier before the end of the current financial year, he said. There would be 53 distribution centres across the country for ensuring prompt delivery of items. Meat selling has also been initiated in utility stores on trial basis in Islamabad and Lahore. If succeed it would be spread at other stores also, he added.