Crowds of buyers descend on utility store, staff run away

YARKHUN: The staff of a utility store in Bang village of Yarkhun had to shut the outlet and run away after hundreds of people from different villages descended on the outlet to buy essential commodities on reduced rates ahead of Eidul Fitr early on Friday morning.

A visit to the outlet in in the village of Bang upper by ChitralToday correspondent at about 11:30am showed crowds of people belonging to different villages waiting for reopening of the store. The utility store in Bang is the only outlet to cater to the whole Yarkhun valley.

An elderly man among the waiting people told ChitralToday that there were huge differences in the prices of daily-use items available in the government utility stores and private shops.

Inflation has hit us very hard otherwise I would have never come here from my home located about 10 km away from here, he added.

When ChitralToday correspondent asked the locals about the staff, they said there is only one man appointed by the government to work in the utility store. He has on his own hired another person to help him during Ramazan, they added.

ChitralToday contacted, Syed Maqsood Ali Shah of Patrangaz village, who is the employee in the store and asked him about the reason for not opening the store. He said he had temporarily closed the store fearing the crowds could snatch away the items. “Hey roi ma apheko koriko storo baand artam.” 

He said he was unable to cater to the rush and as a precautionary step had closed the store. He said he needed security from the administration of the utility store corporation.

In reply to  a question, Mr Shah, he said the store had sufficient stock of essential items.

The locals demanded that the government should open more outlets of the utility stores in the remote area and appoint staff to facilitate the residents.