VEHARI
Consumers complained that expired food items such as gram, rice, flour, pulses and sugar are being sold in less quantity at the Utility Stores here.
They said, “USC staff including Area Manager Nayyar Abbas illegally sell out sugar to shopkeepers in the absence of the warehouse in charge. The Utility Stores Corporation is playing with the lives of people by selling expired food items, particularly dry milk, packed milk, porridge, beverages, glucose, dates, gram flour, pickles, cooking oil, ghee, tea, pulses, noodles and red chillies at its outlets in Vehari district.”
The zonal officers are allegedly forcing the staff to sell out expired food items just to secure their commission, said sources. They added that the officers intentionally purchase expired food items at cheaper rates to avoid wrath of the high officials over shortage in these days.
A USC official said that the high-ups purchased expired food items of different brands at lower rates at half prices. He alleged that the amount was shared by the high officials. He also disclosed that the officers were now going to buy substandard flour and sugar because these items were not available at USC outlets for more than a week.
Sources said that in the most of cases, zonal managers, who are responsible for ensuring supply to the stores, force the lower staff to sell expired and unhygienic food items for their vested interests. “This practice is underway for many days,” they said.
They said that currently, several expired items were being sold at all USC outlets in South Punjab and Vehari district and no one is there to check the practice as the controllers themselves are involved in the practice as they get commission from the companies, especially flour and sugar mills.
Consumers said, “We go to USC outlets to buy quality items at reduced prices, but the majority of items are expired,” they said. Ismail, a consumer, said that the expiry date on food items were either erased or tampered. “We don’t need subsidy in this form where all expired items are being provided with us,” he said.
Lubna Kausar, another customer, alleged that the red chillies, pulses, rice and other items were full of pebbles and dirt. “We are forced to buy unhygienic food items from the outlets because we cannot afford to buy these from the market,” she said. She further alleged that flour was of low quality and its 20kg bag is usually found up to 400 grams less in weight.
Muhammad Khan, a customer, said that he bought a pack of milk from a USC outlet in Rawalpindi, but it was expired. “I was very upset to see the expiry date. Who will be responsible if my family faces any health problem,” he said.
When contacted, USC Zonal Manager Nayyar Abbas denied the allegations, and said that USC was providing the best quality food items for the buyers. He admitted shortage of some items and denied the sale of expired items at the stores. He said that packing was made manually and sometimes pebbles or any other thing could mix in items and that he would take strict action against it. MPA PML-N Mian Saqib Khurshid said that the Punjab chief minister should take action against the “corrupt officers” of USC.