Islamabad – In a significant development, the federal government has reached a consensus with the employees’ union of the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) regarding a comprehensive severance package worth Rs28.2 billion.
(more…)Tag: USC
-
Govt to clear Rs27bn dues for USC, NA committee informed
Islamabad, August 25, 2025 – The federal government has announced that it will release the outstanding dues of Utility Stores Corporation (USC) amounting to Rs27 billion in two phases, ensuring timely settlement of payments to employees and vendors. This decision was shared during a detailed session of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Privatization, which convened on Monday under the chairmanship of Muhammad Farooq Sattar.
(more…) -
USC Layoffs Move to Next Stage, More Dismissals Expected
Karachi, February 27, 2025 – The ongoing wave of layoffs at the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) is set to intensify as new administrative directives have been issued to dismiss regular employees up to grade 12.
(more…) -
USC Regular Employees Are Not Government Servants: Minister
Islamabad: Federal Minister for Industries and Production, Rana Tanveer Hussain, has clarified that regular employees of the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) do not hold the status of government servants.
(more…) -
USC May Launch Ramadan Relief Package on March 4
The Utility Stores Corporation (USC) in Pakistan is gearing up to implement a significant relief package likely from March 4, 2024 for the holy month of Ramadan, aimed at providing much-needed relief to the lower-income segment of the country.
(more…) -
ECC Extends Subsidized Rates for Essential Items through USC until June Next Year
Islamabad, August 8, 2023 – The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet has given its nod to the extension of the Prime Minister’s Relief Package for five essential items, ensuring subsidized rates through the Utility Stores Corporation (USC).
(more…) -
USC to disburse ration bags worth Rs540 million to flood victims
ISLAMABAD: Utility Stores Corporation (USC) will disburse 113,700 ration bags worth Rs540 million to the flood affected people across the country.
In this regard the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet on Thursday approved the grant in favor of the USC.
Ministry of Industries and Production presented a summary for release of funds for Utility Stores Corporation for provision of essential commodities in flood affected areas.
READ MORE: OTP requirement abolished for USC purchases
The meeting was apprised that the Utility Stores Corporation, in collaboration with provincial governments, is actively participating in relief operation for supply of essential food items in flood affected areas across Pakistan.
Due to emergency situation and based on the preliminary need assessment, 113,700 ration bags amounting to Rs. 540 million would be disbursed. Considering emergency situation, the ECC approved Supplementary/ Technical Supplementary Grant of Rs. 540 million in favour of Utility Stores Corporation (USC).
READ MORE: ECC approves Ramzan relief package worth Rs8.28 bn
Finance Mnister Miftah Ismail chaired the ECC meeting. Federal Minister for Commerce Syed Naveed Qamar, Federal Minister for Power Khurram Dastgir Khan, Federal Minister for Industries and Production Makhdoom Syed Murtaza Mehmood, Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, MNA/ex-PM, Minister of State for Finance and Revenue Dr. Aisha Ghous Pasha, Dr. Muhammad Jehanzeb Khan, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Government Effectiveness, MD USC, MD PASSCO, Federal Secretaries and senior officers attended the meeting.
Ministry of National Food Security & Research tabled a summary for allocation of PASSCO’s local and imported wheat sock among recipient agencies.
READ MORE: USC, NBP complete integration for Ehsaas Rashan
It was briefed that PASSCO serves as a strategic organization to procure wheat from Punjab, Sindh and Baluchistan to build strategic reserves and to supply wheat to recipient agencies in case of emergency.
Every year, on the request of recipient agencies, PASSCO makes allocation of wheat from its stocks. PASSCO held wheat stock of 2.499 MMT, including 1.232 MMT carry forward stocks.
In view of above, the ECC allowed to supply PASSCO’s wheat among all recipients at 50 per cent local and 50 per cent imported.
However, USC will be provided wheat at 75 per cent local and 25 per cent imported.
All recipients including USC would pay full cost of wheat (local + imported) and incidental charges to PASSCO.
READ MORE: USC automation to ease provision of targeted subsidy
Ministry of Industries and Production presented a summary on Urea Fertilizer requirement for Rabi season 2022-23. The meeting was briefed on the demand and supply situation of Urea fertilizer for the Rabi season 2022-23.
After detailed deliberation, the ECC allowed Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) to initiate the process for import of 300,000 MT of Urea on G2G basis and decided the provinces to bear their subsidy share.
The ECC approved funds amounting to Rs. 3 billion to NDMA to meet its growing expenditure on account of procurement of rescue, relief and rehabilitation of the calamity stricken population across Pakistan.
NDMA briefed the meeting that in the aftermath of devastation caused by floods across the country, millions of people have suffered in terms of loss of life, property, livestock and standing crops.
NDMA was tasked by the Prime Minister to coordinate with PDMAs and to proactively undertake rescue and relief operation in the affected areas.
The ECC also approved funds requirement of Rs. 1,009,480,191/- in favour of Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation & coordination for further transfer to Government of Afghanistan through approved mechanism for running cost/salary of the staff of three Pakistani hospitals in Afghanistan.
-
OTP requirement abolished for USC purchases
ISLAMABAD: The government has abolished the requirement of One-Time Password (OTP) for purchases from Utility Stores Corporate (USC) at subsidized rates.
Keeping in view the plight of the public, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has abolished the One Time Password System used for purchases at utility stores, according to a statement issued on Sunday.
READ MORE: ECC approves Ramzan relief package worth Rs8.28 bn
Original ID cards will now have to be displayed at the counter for purchasing subsidized items at utility stores.
The photocopy requirement has also been removed and declared to receive a confirmation SMS to the customer’s registered mobile number after purchase.
READ MORE: USC, NBP complete integration for Ehsaas Rashan
The Utility Stores Corporation is pursuing a strategy of transparent transfer of federal government subsidies to the real beneficiaries.
Under the federal government subsidy, sugar is available at 70 rupees per kg, ghee at 300 rupees per kg and a 10 kg bag of flour at 400 rupees at all utility stores across the country.
READ MORE: USC automation to ease provision of targeted subsidy
Rice and pulses are also being subsidized.
In addition, more than 1,500 standard items are available at a much lower price than the general market.
READ MORE: USC to announce special discount package for Ramazan
-
ECC approves Ramzan relief package worth Rs8.28 bn
ISLAMABAD: The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet on Monday approved a Relief Package worth Rs8.28 billion to provide essential items at subsidized rates during the holy month of Ramzan.
The ECC approved a summary tabled by Ministry of Industries and Production for Ramzan Relief Package 2022.
The ECC after discussion approved Ramzan Relief Package 2022 for 19 essential items to be sold at subsidized rates at Utility Stores Corporation (USC) with total subsidy of Rs. 8.28 billion.
READ MORE: PM Imran reduces, freezes POL prices
Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Shaukat Tarin presided over the ECC meeting.
Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Syed Fakhar Imam, Federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Azam Khan Swati, Federal Minister for Energy Hammad Azhar, Federal Secretaries and senior officers attended the meeting.
ECC approved Kamyab Overseas Programme (KOP) as a new component of Kamyab Pakistan Programme. The new initiative is meant for prospective low income overseas workers having confirmed foreign job offer, employment agreement and valid travel documents and registered with NSER to avail interest free loans under KPP.
READ MORE: PM Imran announces setting up technology startup fund
Maximum amount of loan would be Rs. 300,000 and returned in easy installments starting after three months of departure. The loan will be provided to 10,180 beneficiaries with estimated required funds of Rs. 3 billion for the 4th quarter of 2021-2022.
ECC considered and approved a summary presented by Ministry of Commerce on proposed amendments in the import and export policy order 2020 for the development of Integrated Tariff Management System (ITMS) for Pakistan Single Window (PSW).
Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division) submitted a summary for allocation of Gas from Togh Field on commercial basis.
The ECC after discussion allowed up to 16 MMCFD gas from Togh Field to SNGPL on commercial basis. The wellhead price of the gas will be decided by the concerned regulator under the applicable rules and policy. Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division) submitted a summary to allow amending the Petroleum Concession Agreement, allowing GHPL Assignment of Working interest in Wali, Jandaran West, Saruna and Pesu block of OGDCL.
The ECC approved to amend the respective Petroleum Concession Agreements by allowing GHPL to increase its Working Interest above its statutory Working Interest of 2.5 per cent being state participator in Wali, Jandran West,Saruna and Pesu blocks of OGDCL.
Ministry of Energy (Power Division) submitted a summary on incentive package announced by the Prime Minister regarding reduction in price of electricity.
The ECC considered and approved PM’s relief package of Rs. 5 per unit by way of reduction in electricity charges base rate for the relief period of four months (March 2022 to June 2022).
The relief package will be applicable to all commercial and domestic non- ToU consumers having monthly consumption up to 700 units, excluding life-line consumers.
The cash flow requirement for the PM Relief Package is Rs. 136 billion. Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division) submitted another summary on reimbursement of price differential claims of oil marketing companies (OMCs) and refineries, in line with PM relief package of reduction in the consumer prices of Motor Spirit and Diesel by Rs. 10 per litre. The price differential would be paid to the Oil Marketing Companies/ Refineries by the Government as a subsidy to avert any shortage in the market.
The ECC approved special PDC disbursement mechanism to pay the PDC speedily within 15 days, opening of special assignment account with PSO and initial amount of Rs20 billion to PSO in accordance with the mechanism.
The ECC also considered and approved following Technical Supplementary/ Supplementary Grants:
i. Rs. 428.90 million to Foreign Affairs Division to meet the expenditure for holding of 48th session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers to be held in Islamabad on 22-23 March, 2022.
ii. Rs. 47.561 million to poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Division.
iii. Rs. 135.078 billion for principal and interest payments against Naya Pakistan Certificates and Islamic Naya Pakistan Certificates.
-
USC, NBP complete integration for Ehsaas Rashan
ISLAMABAD: Utility Stores Corporation (USC) and National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) on have completed integration to launch provision of subsidized items under Ehsaas Rashan Riayat Program.
Senator Dr. Sania Nishtar, SAPM together with MD USC, Taha Aziz Magrabi visited a Utility Store in G-6 Islamabad to field test the integration of data and Point of Sales (PoS) systems between Ehsaas, National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) and USC under the Ehsaas Rashan Riayat programme.
READ MORE: USC automation to ease provision of targeted subsidy
At the Utility Store, Dr. Sania witnessed the first transaction and met with the first cohort of beneficiaries who were declared eligible under the testing phase, after they enrolled for Ehsaas Rashan through 8171.
Through the newly integrated system, the eligibility of the buyers was verified, and they were able to avail subsidy on the purchase of flour, cooking oil, ghee and pulses.
READ MORE: USC to announce special discount package for Ramazan
“It is very encouraging to see the successful system and data integration which is a result of the hard work of USC, NBP and Ehsaas teams.
“This is, in fact, a great milestone. The integrated Point of Sale system will enable the USC to pass on the Ehsaas Rashan subsidies to eligible families”, said Dr. Sania.
Adding further, she said, “Work under the Ehsaas Rashan programme is underway, registration and scrutiny of applicants is ongoing and very soon the Ehsaas Rashan subsidies will be available through a network of Utility Stores of Corporation and NBP authorized Kiryana stores all over the country.”
With the launch of Rashan Riayat, close to 4000 locations of Utility Stores will go live on the same day. The beneficiaries will follow the same check out experience as they do at any other NBP enabled Kiryana store i.e. CNIC and cell phone. To make it easy for the customers Utility Stores will also have the signboard “Ehsaas Rashan Riayat” displayed.
READ MORE: USC officials warned against misusing subsidy
MD Utility Stores said that the Ehsaas Rashan subsidies will also be operationalized shortly through a network of Utility Stores all over the country.
Under the Rs. 120 billion programme, a subsidy of Rs. 1,000 a month will be granted to each of 20 million eligible families on the purchase of flour, pulses, cooking oil and ghee.
Captain (Rtd) Saeed Ahmed Nawaz, Additional Secretary Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Division; Gul Bahar Khan, General Manager NBP; Hisham Jan Kiani, Regional Head North NBP; and senior officials of Utility stores including GM Store Operations, GM IT, Zonal Manager, Regional Manager Islamabad and Manager Coordination were also present.
READ MORE: Sindh governor visits USC outlets to check availability of essential items