ISLAMABAD: The federal government has decided to close down its public retail sector, the Utility Stores Corporation (USC), by July 10, 2025. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved a voluntary separation scheme (VSS) package for all affected employees.
The decision was made during a high-level meeting on June 30 at the USC head office in Islamabad. The meeting, chaired by the Managing Director of USC and attended by senior officials including the Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Industries and Production and several general managers, formalized this decision.
According to meeting minutes obtained by the newspaper, essential staff will temporarily remain to manage affairs after the closure. A comprehensive VSS package will be developed for USC employees, and a record of all fixed assets will be compiled before the shutdown.
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“All utility stores will stop operations by July 2, 2025,” the minutes stated. A final decision on ceasing operations using the inventory software “Oddo” will be made after July 1.
The USC has instructed zonal and regional managers to oversee the shutdown process. Stocks from stores will be transferred to warehouses and returned to vendors under supervision.
IT equipment, racks, and fixtures from all store locations, including USC headquarters and zonal offices, will also be retrieved. Notices will be issued for vacating rented store premises by August 1, 2025. A dedicated closure operations department will oversee the entire process.
Meanwhile, the General Manager (IT)/Aarsol has been assigned to develop a digital module for tracking USC’s fixed assets.
