The Utility Stores Corporation (USC) has opened 2,500 more stores totalling the number to 3,500, said Shehzad Khan, RRegional Manager, USC, Multan New stores have been added after the government announced in budget 2007-08 to open 5,000 outlets across the country by the end of 2007.
Khan informed the press that "the USC has opened over 1,000 outlets in the first phase, while it managed to open about 1,500 new outlets in the second phase ended on September 30, thus meeting the target well within the time." Further, he said to the newsman that as per the programme, each union council of the country would soon have a utility store.
To facilitate the customers during Ramadan, the USC besides doubling supply of flour to its stores had dispatched mobile units to all those areas where utility stores were yet not opened.
Replying to a question about the quality of products available at stores, he said: "the corporation procures edibles and other items directly from the manufacturers, therefore cannot be of substandard. He said special USC teams pay surprise visits to check prices and the USC has also set a complaint centre with a toll free number 08000-5590 enabling people to lodge their complaints if they face any difficulties.