ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister's Special Assistant on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan has said the government decided to close down Utility Stores Corporation (USC) operations to prevent it from turning into "another PIA," a move that has affected 6,000 employees.

The National Assembly Standing Committee on Industries and Production met in Islamabad on Tuesday to discuss the closure. Industries and Production Secretary Saif Anjum and Haroon Akhtar attended the session.

Anjum informed the committee that all USC operations had been shut down in line with the government's July 31 deadline. He added that relief packages for employees had been approved and would be disbursed within 15 days.

Akhtar Khan said the closure was decided "with a heavy heart," adding: "Nowhere in the world

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