Committees formed to manage Ramazan Bazaar operations

A control room will be set up to ensure smooth supply of sugar

LAHORE: The district administration has finalised its plan for the establishment of Ramazan Bazaars and Fair Price Shops where daily use items would be available at subsidised rates during the month of Ramazan.

On Monday, Lahore DCO Capt (r) Muhammad Usman constituted special committees and appointed focal persons to look after the operations at these facilities.

A four-member committee was formed to ensure smooth supply of seasonal fruits and vegetables at Ramazan Bazaars and Fair Price Shops. The committee was asked to hold meetings with wholesale dealers and distributors of fruits and vegetables and to prepare a transport plan for the delivery of these items to the various bazaars and shops.

The committee included the agriculture EDO, the market committee secretary and the extra-assistant director of agriculture (EADA).

A three-member committee, comprising the Lahore DCO and the food and industries DOs, was formed to look after the availability of national and multinational companies’ products. The Food and Industries DOs were asked to immediately schedule meetings for the purpose with representatives of these companies. They were asked to submit detailed reports on these meetings to the Lahore DCO.

Evaluation and Monitoring DO Abdul Qayyum Niazi was appointed as the focal person for provision of electricity and electric appliances like fans and deep freezers at Ramazan Bazaars and Fair Price Shops. He was asked to prepare a plan for the purpose in collaboration with town officers concerned.

The meeting decided to set up a complaint cell in each town where electricians would remain available to look after any untoward situation.

It decided to set up a district-level control room to ensure smooth supply of sugar at all Ramazan Bazaars and Fair Price Shops. Monitoring and Inquiry DO Amin Akbar Chopra was directed to ensure implementation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the bazaars and dastarkhwans (soup kitchens). He was also asked to prepare and submit to the Lahore DCO a daily report on prices of items sold at the bazaars.

Livestock and Food Security DOs were asked to hold negotiations with the Pakistan Poultry Association (PPA) for availability of poultry products at lower rates. Food Security DOs was also asked to monitor the supply of wheat flour at the bazaars.

Earlier, the provincial government had announced a Rs5 billion Ramazan package for provision of daily-use items at subsidised rates at the bazaars. As many as 330 Ramazan Bazaars and 25 Model Bazaars will be set across the province. There will be 2,000 dastarkhawan where free meals would be served at sehr and iftar hours.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 17^th, 2016.