Islamabad, Feb 3: In a surprising turn of events, the Utility Store sales in Pakistan reported a 17 percent increase in January 2025 compared to the previous month, with sales reaching Rs. 1.8 billion, up from Rs. 1.53 billion in December 2024. This increase comes amid the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the future of the state-owned corporation, which has been facing financial challenges and political scrutiny.
Regionally, the highest sales were recorded in the Peshawar zone, where Rs. 359 million worth of goods were sold. Faisalabad followed closely with Rs. 348 million, and Islamabad saw sales worth Rs. 279 million. The Lahore and Abbottabad zones reported Rs. 244 million and Rs. 213 million in sales, respectively.
On the other hand, the Multan zone registered Rs. 178 million in sales, while Karachi and Sukkur zones posted Rs. 87 million and Rs. 58 million, respectively. The Quetta zone recorded the lowest sales, with only Rs. 33 million in transactions.
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Despite this positive performance in sales, the future of the Utility Stores Corporation remains in question. Just two weeks ago, the federal cabinet formed a committee tasked with considering the potential shutdown of the corporation. The committee is expected to submit its report soon. This comes after the federal government discontinued subsidies for Utility Stores in August 2024, which had previously provided public discounts on essential items like flour, ghee, sugar, rice, and pulses.
The sales figures indicate that despite the challenges faced by the Utility Stores Corporation, there is still significant demand for its products in various regions across the country. However, with ongoing discussions about its future, the situation remains fluid, and it remains to be seen whether these sales figures will have any bearing on the decision about the corporation’s future.
