Closure of Utility Stores: LHC seeks reply from federal govt, others

Closure of utility stores will render 11,000 people jobless, says petitioner

By ONLINE
August 28, 2024
A long queue of people is seen outside a utility store in an undated picture. — AFP/File
A long queue of people is seen outside a utility store in an undated picture. — AFP/File  

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) Tuesday sought a reply from the federal government and other departments in a petition challenging the utility stores closure.

The petition, filed by the Utility Stores Association (USA), was heard by Justice Muhammad Raza Qureshi.

Asif Shahzad Sahi advocate took the plea that the petitioner was an employee of the Utility Stores Corporation for the last 10 years.

He said the USC was profit-earning department earning Rs2 billion and paying Rs25 billion tax to the government.

He said the corporation was meeting its expenses and paying salaries on its own but it was being closed on the IMF directives.

He said the closure of utility stores will render 11,000 people jobless.

After hearing the stance of the petitioner, the court issued a notice to the federal government, secretary Cabinet Division, secretary law ministry and managing director Utility Stores Corporation, seeking replies till September 4.