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Utility Stores Corporation has been trying to provide quality grocery items to the population of Pakistan since its establishment. Utility Stores Corporation has taken initiative of Franchise Utility Stores throughout the country which is being highly appreciated. This extension of utility stores have facilitated a lot of people by providing grocery items to them at nearer places. Recent rise in commodities have effected the low income people of the country. Most of these people live in far off areas where no fair price shops are available. These people face a lot of problems due to this and they have to travel to purchase these grocery items. Franchise Utility stores are blessing but its benefits are not reaching the deserving people. Reason for this is that openers of Franchise Utility Stores prefer to open these stores in populated areas of big cities where they can earn better profits by way of excessive/rapid sale. It is fact that a large population of Pakistan lives in villages, towns and remote areas where no Franchise Utility Stores have been opened. Lower income people of Pakistan deserve that they are provided with pure and quality products by Government organizations. We all know that this not an easy task and Government departments cannot provide these facilities at their own to whole population of the country. These are the reasons which forced Malik Departmental Stores to step in to help and share hands with Utility Stores Corporation. Our mission is to provide cheap and quality commodities to each of person of our country. Undoubtedly it is difficult and requires huge investment and lot of efforts. With the help of Almighty Allah, Malik Departmental Stores have decided to serve the low income people of Pakistan. It was very difficult for us to decide that from where we should start. Keeping in view that not only Utility Stores Corporation is operating stores at various places by itself along with Franchise Utility Stores but private parties are also operating shopping malls, small shops etc. We conducted a survey to decide about those locations where we should open these stores in different localities where low income people live. After meeting and interviewing a lot of people in these localities, we came to a conclusion that most of people have some kind of access to commodities whether they purchase these items from private shopkeepers or from utility stores. We have found that at least there is one such locality in all big cities of Punjab, residents of which have to easy access to any shopping centers or even small shops near to their homes. Of course people of these localities need commodities for their everyday usage. These localities are labor colonies established by Workers Welfare Board in Punjab. This will not only be interesting but surprising that these labor colonies have even no private shops for their inhabitants. Almost all of these colonies are situated at a considerable distance from the main city. Residents of these colonies are low income people. It is common practice that male members of the families go out for work during the day time leaving behind females with children. It becomes very difficult for women then need to purchase commodities during the day time because there are no shops in surroundings. They have two options, to wait until evening when males are back otherwise to go at a considerably far place for shopping. There are 27 labor colonies in Punjab. It appears that commercial plots have been allocated in all of these colonies which have not been allotted to anybody due to unknown reasons. This is why no business activities ever developed in these colonies. Despite the fact that residents of these colonies are deserving people, no effort has been made so far to facilitate them at any level. Due to these reason people do not prefer to live in these colonies. No Franchise Utility Stores have ever been opened in any of these colonies. Malik Departmental Stores feels pleasure to take responsibility of serving these ignored localities. We intend to open Franchise Utility Stores in all 27 labor colonies of Punjab in collaboration with Utility Stores Corporation.
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