Utility Stores sales witness 600% surge

Prices of commodities in markets are increasing

MULTAN: The sale at Utility Stores Corporation's regional outlets has increased by 600% after the government provided subsidy on different daily use items.

A huge number of people were seen shopping at Utility Stores to avail the benefit of subsidy given by the government during January and the phenomenon also halted soaring prices of different commodities in other local markets in the city.

Ahmed Khan, a shopkeeper near MDA Chowk said many customers had started purchasing daily use items from Utility Stores for the last few days. To a question, he said earlier, the customers were worried due to increasing prices of commodities almost on a daily basis.

Although the government gave subsidy on various items at Utility Stores, it also brought stability in prices of many items, including flour, ghee, pulses, rice and tea. Before subsidy, the prices of commodities in general markets were increasing on a daily basis. However, citizens’ inclination towards Utility Stores helped stabilise prices in open markets.

He particularly mentioned that there was no increase in price of ghee for last three weeks.

Regional Manager Utility Stores Corporation Sajjad Hussain said there were 81 Utility Stores in the region, which comprised of district Multan and Tehsil Dunyapur. He said that Utility Stores registered increase in sales by nearly 600%.

In December, there was Rs27 million sale at all regional stores. However, the sale has gone up and it reached over Rs170 million in January. He expressed satisfaction over huge flow of customers at Utility Stores. About sales at 81 outlets and consumption of goods, he said that 55,000 bags of flour, 400 tonnes of sugar, 500 tonnes of ghee and oil were sold at the outlets.

Responding to a question about quality of items, he said that the Utility Stores items were purchased directly from companies. There is no involvement of middle men in purchase process. Utility Stores administration did not compromise on quality of items and best quality products were being given to masses.

When questioned about supply, the regional manager observed that an ample supply of items was delivered at the outlets. Responding about price differences between Utility Stores and other markets, he observed that prices at USCs were very much low.

There was difference of Rs40 per kilogramme in ghee price, Rs32 on one litre of oil, Rs20 on one kilogramme of rice, Rs14 on one kilogramme of broken rice, Rs25 on white gram, Rs13 on pulse (gram) and almost Rs15 on Masoor.

“These low prices are basic reason behind huge flow of customers towards Utility Stores,” he said. Hassan Mukhtar, a customer and resident of Pul Bararan said that he purchased groceries for the month of February from Utility Stores due to subsidy recently announced by the government.

He saved over Rs800 by purchasing commodities from Utility Stores. He maintained that he spent about Rs6,000 for grocery for January. Now, he purchased same number of items for about Rs5,200 from the Utility Store. He lauded the government for offering subsidy. He wished that the government should continue the same subsidy in future also.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 4^th, 2020.