Federal Minister for Industries & Production Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani visited the Headquarters of Utility Stores Corporation here Wednesday. Managing Director USC Muhammad Arif Khan and other senior officers briefed the minister about the  function of the corporation, facing issues & problems, ongoing plans & projects and future programmes of the corporation. During briefing M.D. M. Arif Khan told the Minister that USC earned Gross Profit in 2008 Rs.3, 294.43 millions while in 2007 the corporation had Gross Profit of Rs.1, 185.61 millions. We are trying our best to make the corporation more and more profit oriented. We see much scope for opening of more new stores in Karachi and Lahore, the M.D. added. About the non-availability of sugar at USC stores, the M.D. told the Minister that 30,000 metric tones of sugar has  been lifted from TCP today which would be available at all the stores within next few days.Federal Minister Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani while expressing his dissatisfaction over performance of USC regarding non-availability of sugar at stores, directed the M.D. to ensure the availability of sugar by 1st January on each and every store of the country. COME WHAT MAY! I don’t want to listen

any complaint of non-availability of sugar from any USC store after 1st January. Maintain a regular supply of sugar particularly and other daily use items as well. The Minister categorically directed the M.D. and other senior officers of the corporation that there would be no compromise and no excuse would be accepted on shortage of any item on stores after 1st January. How do you manage it? This is your responsibility. Purchase sugar on more affordable and economical price so that it could be sold out to public on cheaper price to the maximum, the Minister added. Mir Hazar Khan Bijharani also directed the M.D. USC to ensure a strong vigilance network so that the staff could not sell stocks of store items in the market particularly in rural areas. If anyone found and caught, will not be spared. I and my Ministry would extend every kind of support and help in solving the problems of USC and removing every kind of impediments, the Minister added.