Islamabad:

The Federal Minister of Industries and Production Rana Tanveer Hussain on Wednesday said the government has no plans to close auxiliary shops but intend to restructure them.

In response to concerns highlighted by Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, he said, “We are not closing supply stores; we restructure them. Political appointments have been made in these stores.”

He said the future of regular employees in supply stores is safe.

The minister said that although supply stores were originally set up to facilitate the public to provide cheaper daily used items, many were opened in unnecessary places due to political considerations.

PPP leader Raja Pervaiz Ashraf raised the question in the National Assembly and remembered that the Minister of Industries and Production had previously assured the house that supply shops would not be closed.

He added that the case was also discussed in the relevant parliamentary committee, where members of all political parties unanimously agreed not to close the utilities.

He said thousands of employees are dependent on these stores for their livelihood, making their continued operation crucial.