18 hours ago
Utility Stores Corporation cease operations nationwide

Web Desk
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1 Aug 2025
The Utility Stores Corporation (USC) shut down its operations across the country on Thursday night in compliance with the deadline July 31, set earlier this month to close the state-run enterprise, which was established in the 1970s to provide subsidised groceries to the citizens.
Following the directions issued by the federal government, all remaining grocery items in the utility stores were shifted to the warehouse of USC and the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) was completely closed today.
A statement issued by the USC on Thursday stated that the ERP system has been shut down, and strict action will be taken against any purchase or sale made through this system after July 31.
Read: Govt to shut down Utility Stores by July 31
A notification from the Ministry of Industries and Production stated that the decision was taken in compliance with directives issued by the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on June 28.
“All the sales and purchases at utility stores have been closed with effect from July 31, except shifting of stock from stores to warehouses and returned to vendors and handing-taking of stores’ inventories,” the notification reads, instructing strict compliance with the order.
Additionally, business through the On Demand Open Object (Odoo) has also been permanently discontinued as of today.
“All point of sale systems connected with Odoo will be rendered inactive across all stores effective July 31,” read another notice issued by USC.
Read: 6,000 Utility Store employees to lose jobs amid privatisation plans
“No store in charge or designated official is authorised to conduct any sales through the Odoo system after this date. Additionally, no procurement transactions shall be initiated through Odoo either,” it added.
The notification also warned that if “any employee found conducting or facilitating sales or purchase via Odoo after July,” will be dealt with strict disciplinary action.
According to a report of the Ministry of Finance, the USC posted a loss of Rs4.1 billion over six months, with a cumulative loss of approximately Rs15.5 billion.
In January, the federal cabinet formed a special committee to develop a plan to shut down USC nationwide. The committee's task is to figure out how to close the USC quickly and find new roles for its employees in other government organisations.
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