ISLAMABAD: The federal government has decided to wind up operations of the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) by July 10.
The move is expected to impact a large number of employees. To cushion the blow, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved a Voluntary Separation Scheme (VSS) package, which will be offered to all affected staff members.
The formal decision was reached during a high-level meeting held on June 30 at the USC head office in Islamabad. The session was chaired by the USC managing director and attended by senior officials, including the Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Industries and Production, along with several general managers.
The shutdown comes a year after Industry and Production Secretary Saif Anjum first confirmed in August 2024 that the government was closing down utility stores across the country. The federal cabinet had subsequently decided in January this year to halt USC operations.
The USC will retain only essential staff to oversee post-closure affairs. A comprehensive VSS package is being finalized, and a full inventory of fixed assets will be compiled before the shutdown is complete.
“All utility stores will cease operations by July 2, 2025,” the minutes noted, with a final decision on terminating the inventory management system after July 1.
Zonal and regional managers have been instructed to supervise the shutdown process, which includes transferring stock to warehouses or returning it to vendors, and reclaiming IT equipment, racks, and fixtures from all store locations, including headquarters and zonal offices.
Notices to vacate rented store spaces will be issued by August 1, 2025. A dedicated closure operations department will be established to manage the entire transition. In parallel, the General Manager (IT), in collaboration with Aarsol, has been tasked with developing a digital tracking module to manage USC’s fixed assets throughout the process.
