Before Ramazan: ‘Worn out’ Model Bazaars to get a makeover

Authorities float tender worth Rs57m for procurement of supplies and services

LAHORE: The Punjab government has decided to renovate the 27 model bazaars established across the province over the past five years at a cost of Rs57 million. The Punjab Model Bazaars Management Company (PMBMC) aims to overhaul the markets before the arrival of the holy month of Ramazan.

The company has advised prospective bidders to visit model bazaars and inspect sites before submitting their bids.

Successful bidders will have to complete the assigned job within 20 days after the issuance of the work permit otherwise they will face a 10% penalty of the order price.



Official documents available with The Express Tribune show the PMBMC has already floated a tender worth Rs57 million for the procurement of supplies and services.

According to the breakdown, Rs20 million alone will be spent on the procurement and installation of green shade nets while waste bins with plastic bags, garbage containers and hand carts worth Rs11 million will be bought.

The other supplies include shopping trolleys worth Rs8 million; benches worth Rs5 million; water coolers with filters worth Rs5 million; ceiling fans worth Rs3 million; and various kinds of plants worth Rs2 million. The company will also acquire third-party security services for the model bazaars at an estimated cost of Rs3 million.

The money will be used on missing or faulty facilities at all model bazaars of Lahore at Chung, Shair Shah, Wahdat Colony, Raiwind and Township, and in the districts of Toba Tek Singh, Hafizabad, Layyah, Bheera, Khushab, Farooqabad, Sahiwal, Bahawalpur, Kasur, Gujrat, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Rawalpindi, Dera Ghazi Khan and Jampur.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, PMBMC CEO Nasir Rafiq said seven new model bazaars had been established in different districts recently, bringing the total number of such markets to 27.

“Most of these bazaars have completed four to five years and need repairs for the routine wear and tear,” he said. “Some infrastructure has been damaged over the years and will be revamped before Ramazan.”

During the fasting month, Nasir said, rush of shoppers at these model bazaars increased manifolds and the company wanted to ensure best facilities for the visitors.

Responding to a question, he said the PMBMC was also trying to establish more model bazaars in other districts of Punjab. “We have already asked the deputy commissioners to identify vacant places in their districts where new model bazaars may be established,” he claimed.

During Ramazan, the Punjab government has a tradition of setting up more than 300 bazaars across Punjab to ensure provision of essential commodities at relatively concessionary rates.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 30^th, 2017.