Citizens face hardships at USC outlets in Pindi

Consumers buying essential commodities at Utility Stores Corporation outlets have been facing severe hardships in getting items under the ‘Ramazan relief package’.

Citizens have to wait in queues for hours to buy food items like subsidized sugar, flour and ghee. Utility stores management cited software malfunctioning behind the long queues of shoppers.

Taking note of the situation, the commissioner Rawalpindi division has ordered immediate synchronisation of demand and supply of food items.

Under the Ramadan relief package, food items were being sold at Rawalpindi utility stores at subsidised rates. A large of people can be seen making long queues outside utility stores.

Muhammad Ramzan, a resident of Jhanda Chichi, said his son is a janitor and has family members and his income is low as compared to expenses.

“We turn to utility stores during Ramadan to avoid inflation. I have been queuing for hours for the last two days to buy flour and sugar. I don't understand the problem in giving quota to the buyers if the government has issued quota to the utility stores,” he said.

Ramzan said that lines have been set up at every utility store including Jhanda Chichi, Murrir Hassan Chowk, Dhok Khabba, Saddar and Sixth Road. Men, women and the elderly lined up to buy groceries and most of them return empty-handed due to the rush.

Read USC unveils its Ramazan relief package

“The government should take notice of issue at Rawalpindi utility stores,” he said.

Rashida Begum, who was queuing outside a utility store near Sasta Ramzan Bazaar at Committee Chowk, said she had been queuing with her daughter-in-law for the two hours to buy subsidised sugar, flour and ghee, but the line is not moving and fasting is very stressful.

“There are no shade or trees outside the stores. There is no seating arrangement. Subsidised food items are available only after much difficulty,” she said adding that she had also complained to the administration but they said the software was running slow and “you will have to line up until the error is removed”.

On the other hand, district administration officials said that the commissioner Rawalpindi division has taken notice of the difficulties facing the people.

They said that utility stores were a federal subject but the commissioner Rawalpindi has directed all officers concerned to provide subsidised items to the buyers immediately and make arrangements to provide sugar, flour and ghee to the citizens without making them line up in queues.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 10^th, 2022.