Canteen Stores Department (CSD) has passed through various stages, since its inception in 1913. Army Canteen Board was the first venture, initiated primarily to cater for the British Forces in India. During 1927-28 this Board was liquidated in favour of Canteen Contractors Syndicate (CCS) Limited. In 1942, CCS became “CSD Government of India”. In August 1947, assets of the CSD India were divided between Pakistan and India. Thus emerged the ‘CSD Pakistan’. It had three Transit Depots located at Karachi, Rawalpindi and Patanga (now Bangladesh) with a capital outlay of Rs 2.8 Million. There were no CSD shops, instead there were only CSD Depots. Unit Canteen Contractors drew their requirements directly from CSD Depots, for sale in Unit Canteens. Total manpower employed was 3 Managers, 57 Salesmen and 30 Workmen (under a General Manager located at CSD Head Office, Karachi). All major stations had the Officers’ Shops run by the Ordnance Corps. In 1960, Officers’ Shops were taken over by CSD. Between 1948-59, CSD enjoyed the status of a full-fledged Government Department, with complete tax exemption / rebates / budgetary grants. CSD used to get a large allocation of foreign exchange and was primarily trading in imported goods. In 1959, CSD was re-designated as a “Full-Fledged, Self-Sustaining Commercial Organization” under the Ministry of Defence and CSD switched over to wholesale and retail merchandising.

Good one, its a nice facility for lower and middle income class. Prices are neither on lower side nor higher if you look around other cash and carries. You get almost every household item with reasonably good quality, I personally suggest you must give a try if you are going for monthly grocery .

Canteen Stores Department CSD is a chain of retail stores run by the Pakistani Ministry of Defence. It is present in all cantonments of Pakistan. Gilgit CSD is located in Capital Sarfraz Shaheed Complex opposite PIA reservation and ticketing office, prices are moderate compared to other departmental stores in Gilgit. Variety is limited but quality is acceptable. Overall its good.