USC kicks off inquiry into ‘irregularities’ in buying items

Chairman Zulfikar declares USC ‘a corruption den’; accuses MD of not doing his job properly

ISLAMABAD:

The Utility Stores Corporation (USC) chairman has directed the board to conduct an inquiry into the alleged irregularities conducted during the purchase of flour, sugar and ghee at its outlets across the country.

The USC Board of Directors Chairman, Zulfikar Ali Khan, observed that “huge discrepancies” occurred while buying flour, sugar and ghee.

Chairman Zulfikar declared that the USC “is a corruption den” and accused USC Managing Director Umar Lodhi of not doing his job properly.

“The managing director did not procure wheat from PASSCO when he had to, instead bought flour from mills on higher rates.

“We were supposed to buy 20,000 tonnes of sugar at Rs67 per kilo from [PTI stalwart] Jahangir Tareen but lifted only 12,000 tonnes after which expensive sugar was bought from the market [to meet he demand],” Zulfikar said while talking to The Express Tribune.

He admitted that he had pressure to resign. However, he said, “I will not resign from my post of the USC chairman like other ministers did [under pressure].”

He said that he had initiated an inquiry against commodity theft and buying them on higher rates. “When I kicked off the inquiry, everyone turned against me. Corruption worth millions of rupees takes place at the utility stores. Purchasing is done on higher rates.”

He threatened that if he went, he would take the whole USC Board of Directors with him. “If I resign, I will first meet Prime Minister Imran Khan and then submit my resignation.”

The Express Tribune tried contacting Production Minister Hammad Azhar and the USC MD but could not get through.