Utility Store Sales Up 17% in January 2025 Despite Zero Govt Subsidy

Utility Store sales surprisingly reported a 17 percent increase in January 2025 compared to December 2024 The state-owned corporation sold goods worth Rs. 1.8 billion in January compared to Rs. 1.53 billion in the previous month. In terms of regional sales, the highest was recorded in the Peshawar zone at Rs. 359 million, followed by Faisalabad at Rs. 348 million and Islamabad at Rs. 279 million. Lahore and Abbottabad zones reported sales of Rs. 244 million and Rs. 213 million, respectively. Multan zone recorded Rs. 178 million in sales, while Karachi and Sukkur zones registered Rs. 87 million and Rs. 58 million, respectively. The lowest sales were reported in Quetta at Rs. 33 million. Despite this increase, the future of the Utility Stores Corporation remains uncertain as the federal cabinet formed a committee two weeks ago to consider shutting it down. The committee will present its report to the cabinet. The federal government discontinued subsidies for Utility Stores in August 2024 which ended public discounts on flour, ghee, sugar, rice, and pulses.