In this article, we will discuss about Jobs at Utility Stores Corporation Pakistan (USCP). We will also talk about how USCP contributes to the national exchequer, its number of stores, and its operations in Balochistan. You’ll also learn about how to become a utility store employee.
Jobs at Utility Stores Corporation of Pakistan (USCP)
Utility Stores Corporation of Pakistan (USC) is looking for fresh graduates for various job positions. The organization runs chain stores in the entire country. Its aim is to provide consumers with basic commodities at lower rates than available in the open market. The company publishes its job vacancies in newspapers and hires fresh graduates as well as experienced professionals to join its team.
There are currently forty job vacancies in the corporation. These advertisements are taken from different newspapers and are posted directly by the employer. Most of the new jobs are located in the city of Islamabad, but you can also find advertisements in all other major cities of Pakistan. You must remember that government jobs cannot be applied for online, so it is essential to apply in person in order to be considered for the position.
Number of stores operated by USCP
The Utility Stores Corporation (USC) operates chain stores in Pakistan. Its aim is to provide basic commodities at lower prices than in the open market. The company currently operates over 6,000 stores across Pakistan. Its stores are widely distributed across the country and a majority of its outlets are located in rural areas. The USC operates its own warehouses and supply chain, ensuring uniform quality and pricing for all its stores. Its operations have grown steadily over the years, and the company operates 63 warehouses nationwide.
The Utility Stores Corporation began operations in the 1970s by acquiring 20 retail outlets from the Staff Welfare Organization (SWO). Over the years, it expanded and grew into a huge organization with a network stretching from Sust to Gawadar. The organization has over 5500 outlets in Pakistan, structured into nine zones. The company’s procurement and distribution systems enable it to retail a large variety of items at lower prices than the open market. It is also involved in disaster management and supplies food ration packages to ravaged areas on the direction of the government.
The government has set a target of opening 50,000 new stores in the country. But this target is still far from reaching its goal of meeting the needs of over 220 million people. The government has also pledged to increase subsidies to existing utility stores and franchisees. The goal is to create more jobs in the process.
Despite the numerous advantages of this retail outlet, the Utility Stores Corporation has faced many challenges. The company’s outdated systems for implementing price changes mean that new prices take anywhere between fifteen to twenty days to become effective. The lack of state-of-the-art IT systems can also lead to corrupt practices between the store administration and local warehouse administration.
The company’s mission is to provide basic commodities at lower prices than the market, and it has a national network of utility stores across the country. By keeping prices low, the utility stores Corporation supports the country’s agro-based industrial sector. Moreover, it creates direct and indirect jobs and helps reduce poverty by providing essential commodities at affordable prices.
Its contribution to the national exchequer
The Utility Stores Corporation is one of the largest retail companies in Pakistan. It was set up 50 years ago following a socialist ideology. However, its business is now not very successful, and its losses are growing with increasing sales. Moreover, it is suffering from mismanagement and is always in the hunt for bailout packages.
The company is not a manufacturer but it buys branded and certified products from reputed companies at much cheaper rates than the open market. Even subsidized ghee and sugar sold in the stores is 25% to 35% cheaper than the price in the open market. The company’s goal is to sell basic goods at cheaper rates to the public.
The Corporation is a semi-autonomous organization, with a board of directors that is comprised of experienced individuals. The corporation was created by then Prime Minister of Pakistan Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. Over the past 40 years, the Corporation has gone through many ups and downs. In 2001, it was almost bankrupt. The former Managing Director devised a huge expansion plan and left the organization on 19 September 2008.
USC has contributed a considerable amount to the national exchequer. In the past fiscal year, the corporation contributed Rs. 8.564 billion in tax revenue. The corporation is also in the process of restructuring and rebranding itself to become a more customer-centric company.
As part of its strategy to serve people at their doorstep, USC is expanding its network at union council level. It plans to open 1,000 new stores in the near future. With a total of over 5500 registered branded products, USC is aiming to provide quality products at a reasonable price. The corporation continues to offer discounts on everyday products from five to fifteen percent.
The USC’s contribution to the national exchequeer has been criticized by the PAC after the organization was informed of alleged irregularities in the Covid-19 funds. The committee said the utility stores corporation must serve the poorest sectors of society, and called on the authorities to stop snatching subsidy funds from USC. In response, the industries secretary was ordered to submit a proposal for the restructured utility store corporation. If it fails to meet the criteria set by the committee, the corporation would be shut down.
Its operations in Balochistan
The Managing Director of Utility Stores Corporation Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, has ordered that the company present a comprehensive plan for boosting utility stores in Karachi within two weeks. In addition, he has directed the company to digitalise its subsidy system and make it transparent. He has also lauded the utility stores’ operations in Balochistan and the targeted subsidy system that enables the stores to run efficiently. The USC has a network of 3,822 stores in Pakistan and is planning to open 300 more stores in Balochistan by the end of next month.
The USC provides essential commodities at lower prices than the market price. The company operates a network of utility stores in all parts of the country. The company procures products at the time of harvest and packages them into small quantities. In addition, it maintains standards of quality and delivers clean and hygienic food. Moreover, it offers uniform prices to its customers across its stores.
The USC is a government-owned enterprise that operates chain stores throughout Pakistan. It is the largest chain-store entity in the country. Its subsidiaries, USCO, sell food, household items, and other necessities at lower prices than the open market. It also operates the Canteen Stores Department, a discount retail network that has expanded to major cities in the country.
In October 2017, General Sarfraz, a former defence attache, was among Imran Khan’s interview candidates for the director general position of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The other passengers of the USCO helicopter included Major Syed, the pilot, and Engineer Brigad Khalid. This flight is believed to have struck down during an intense flood in Lasbela, Balochistan.
The USCO director-general has approved a proposal for the establishment of a utility stores network in Balochistan. He is confident that the project will bring benefits to the Balochistan economy. He also hopes that this investment will stimulate growth in the province.
