ISLAMABAD – Hundreds of employees of the Utility Stores Corporation on Monday staged a protest against the likely closure of the stores and demanded permanent contracts.
The employees of the country’s biggest state-run retail chain gathered at D-Chowk in the capital city, urging the government to clear the Rs2.76 billion subsidy claim pending for the previous seven years
They feared that liquidity crunch could cause the closure of the stores, which provide items to the public at the affordable price, across the country.
The protesters who wanted to proceed forward from the D-Chowk to Parliament House were barred by the police officials. The security officials also closed the roads leading to the Parliament House by place barbed wires.
The agitators also asked the government to make their contracts permanent also sought an increase in their salaries and wages. The chain of stores will remain closed across the country until their demands are met, the employees said.
They also warned of marching down on the Parliament House if the government did not pay heed to their demands.
