{"id":117217,"date":"2022-02-16T06:13:24","date_gmt":"2022-02-16T06:13:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zameen.com\/blog\/?p=117217"},"modified":"2022-02-16T06:13:30","modified_gmt":"2022-02-16T06:13:30","slug":"utility-stores-corporation-pakistan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zameen.com\/blog\/utility-stores-corporation-pakistan.html","title":{"rendered":"All You Need To Know About Utility Stores Corporation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

With the inflation rate continuously rising, the prices of basic commodities are also rising in the open market. Among these retail and wholesale stores is Utility Stores Corporation (USC) which provides basic commodities to the public at prices lower than the market through a network of utility stores spread across the country. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This blog provides a complete overview of Utility Stores Corporation, its functions, history and the network of stores it operates. So, let\u2019s begin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

History Of Utility Stores Corporation<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"grocery
Stores of USC provide a complete range of grocery items<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Utility Stores Corporation (USC) is a semi-autonomous body that is headed by a managing director and governed by an experienced board of directors. The corporation was established back in 1971 and took over 20 retail stores from the Staff Welfare Organization to provide graded consumer products at prices lower than the market. Since then, the corporation has evolved and passed through various reorganizing processes to make it better and more structured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Currently, USC is operating about 6,000 retail stores across Pakistan and about 60% of the stores are located in rural areas to provide quality basic commodities to these communities. The corporation has maintained uniformity in prices as well as the quality of products across the country. In order to circumvent any disparities, USC manages its own procurement, supply chain and warehouses across the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Functions Of USC<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Over the years, USC has grown its network as well as the scope of its operations. The corporation has about 6,000 stores across Pakistan and 63 warehouses to provide a variety of products to the end consumers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The corporation maintains lower prices than the open market by procuring products at the time of harvest which are then packed into small quantities at the USC warehouses. The effective network of the supply chain from procurement to delivering the goods to end consumers helps USC in maintaining standard quality, delivering clean, graded, hygienic, unadulterated food and non-food items and maintaining uniformity in prices across all their stores.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, Utility Stores Corporation has more than half of its stores in rural areas providing relief to the less fortunate citizens of the country. These outlets have been opened at the Union Council level enabling the corporation to penetrate into the deeper parts of the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Utility Stores Corporation is also one of the largest taxpayer organizations in the country that contributes to the national exchequer through various types of taxes. In addition to this, USC also supports the agro-based industrial sector, creating direct and indirect employment, which eventually helps in supporting the government\u2019s mission to reduce poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the major functions of the corporation is to provide consumers with essential commodities during times of shortage and that too at subsidized rates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Special Roles Of USC<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While the aforementioned roles are performed on the daily basis by the corporation, it also performs certain duties as per need basis. USC has also provided its assistance during crisis situations and natural calamities. One of these instances was the natural disaster of October 2005 when USC provided quick packages to the affected. Similarly, the corporation has also distributed packages during times of floods in the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

USC also provides government relief packages such as Ramzan Packages through which households can get their groceries at subsidized prices. The corporation also collects market intelligence that helps it and the government to provide even better relief packages and intervene in the market through sales of subsidized items, act as a price moderator and deter hoarding, black marketing and profiteering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opening A New Franchise<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Utility Stores Corporation has a self-employment generation scheme through a public-private partnership. This is a low-investment and high-return scheme through which people can open utility stores in Pakistan to add to their household income and 70% of the gross profit is given to the franchisee expansion of the network of USC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

USC has a list of assorted items that need to be sold at the stores. A franchise can also sell items along with these if they wish to. USC has criteria for public-private partnerships and some essential requirements that need to be met.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Criteria For Opening A New Franchise<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n