The Utility Stores Corporation of Pakistan (USCP) is a Pakistani state-owned enterprise that operates chain stores throughout the country that provide basic commodities to the general public at prices which are lower than the open market because the government subsidizes them.[1] It is the largest chain-store entity in the country with 5,939 locations.
Utility Stores Corporation is governed by a board of directors and headed by a managing director.[2] Public business organizations or the public can ask the courts in Pakistan to hold hearings if they have concerns about the quality of items being sold at the stores.[3]
History
Utility Stores Corporation was established in 1971 to provide price relief on food and beverages to the low-income segment of society.[4] It started with only 20 stores acquired from the Staff Welfare Organization.[4] Its purpose was to supply the public, particularly the poorer sections, with clean, graded, and hygienically suitable food and non-food items free from adulteration.[4] It also aimed to offer a setting where people could purchase items at prices lower than the general market.[4]
During Imran Khan's tenure, the Government of Pakistan completed the computerization of the utility stores across the country to improve their performance and efficiency.[5]
Closure
The Utility Stores Corporation (USC) of Pakistan, ceased all operations on July 31, 2025. This closure followed a directive from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and a decision by the USC's board of directors. The move, announced by the Ministry of Industries and Production, is part of a wider government effort to restructure state-owned companies and address significant fiscal deficits.[6][7][8]
The USC had been grappling with substantial financial difficulties, with reported cumulative losses exceeding Rs15 billion. Following the shutdown, all sales and purchases were halted. A government committee had previously been formed to oversee the closure process and manage the fate of permanent employees, who are to be absorbed into other government departments or placed in a surplus pool.[6][7][8]
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