Islamabad:
The Federal Minister of Industries and Production, Rana Tanveer Hussain, said that the Government is not closing the Corporation of Public Services Stores (USC) and that there is no threat to its regular and contractual employees.
“The government is only closing non -thin USC stores that were established in unnecessary places,” Hussain told the upper house on Friday.
The minister, however, admitted that there are proposals under consideration to restructure, privatize or direct USC issues on a public-private association “with the consultation of the allied parties.”
He said the Government provides a subsidy of RS50 billion to the USC to facilitate the public to provide cheaper articles for daily use.
Last year, the Government had provided an amount of RS17 billion to the USC under the Ramazan aid package. However, he said, the amount was not used correctly to facilitate people.
He said that the federal government has now increased the RSAZAN package to RS20 billion this year.
Hussain said the country is moving
The correct direction “under the dynamic leadership” of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
“Pakistan’s position has been strengthened worldwide and the confidence of international financial institutions and the great powers shows that government economic policies are correct,” he said.
A report published in the Express PAkGazette on February 16 revealed that the Government had decided to fire the USC wage employees as part of its “worthy” policy.
The measure, which will affect approximately 2,500 to 2,600 workers, was previously approved by the Board of Directors of the USC.
According to the sources, the directives for the termination of the employees had already been issued by the respective zonal offices, indicating the beginning of the personnel reduction process.
The dismissals are in line with the broader policy of the government to rationalize the workforce and reduce expenses. The decision occurs as part of continuous restructuring efforts within the USC, which has been under financial tension.
Meanwhile, the Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer, Tarar, told the Chamber that the peaceful protest is a fundamental right of each citizen, but must take place within the parameters established by law.
The minister was responding to the concerns raised by Senator Sherry Rehman regarding the use of force against the employees of the Protestant government.
Tarar said that the interruptions were caused by protesters in the Secretariat of Pakistan, a crucial institution that serves citizens of all regions of the country, including the remote areas of Baluchistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and Punjab.
He said such disturbances prevent the provision of public services. The Secretariat, he said, should not be retained by these actions.
The minister also mentioned that the prime minister had ordered the relevant officials to have conversations with the protesters to address their concerns and find resolutions.
“The finance minister actively participates in negotiations with Protestant employees, and the Government undertakes to meet their legitimate demands,” he said.
Tarar said the prime minister has assured that any employee offered early or placed in the surplus group will have their completely protected rights.
