Punjab to get five new model bazaars

PMBMC to improve existing markets across the district

LAHORE: Five new model bazaars are likely to open by end of the month. As these locations open for business, the total number of model bazaars in Punjab will reach 32.

Punjab Model Bazaars Management Company (PMBMC) Acting Chief Executive Officer Nasir Rafiq told The Express Tribune that these new model bazaars are near completion in Chakwal, Jhang, Vehari, Farooqabad and Lodhran district.

He pointed out that in the first phase, the company has to establish and improve model bazaars in Lahore and the Central Punjab region. “It is also trying to establish new model bazaars in South Punjab districts.



Rafiq highlighted the company is keen to establish new model bazaars in Multan, Bahawalnagar, Mandi Bahauddin, Sheikhupura city and other less developed districts of the province. However, it is facing difficulty in finding state land for new model bazaars in these districts.

“Though local MNAs, MPAs and deputy commissioners are all trying to allot some suitable state land for new model bazaars in these districts, but they have not been able to succeed, thus far. Several proposals are pending with the relevant office of the Board of Revenue (BoR),” he indicated.

He said the government has provided sufficient financial resources for the construction of new model bazaars in almost all districts, but the company requires land for their establishment. He pointed out that several sites were identified in Multan district for the construction of a new model bazaar, but PMBMC was consistently told that the proposed property belonged to a government department and could not be allotted for a model bazaar.



Responding to a question, Rafiq said the private-public partnership model was not feasible for model bazaars because the company wanted to ensure availability of all commodities at government notified rates. “In most cases, the company offers shop or kiosk at a rent of Rs2,000 to Rs3,000 per month. It provides free electricity and basic facilities to all vendors just to keep prices as low as possible. We don’t want to commercialise the model bazaar project as it will have a negative impact on commodity prices,” he said.

For the moment, around 27 model bazaars are operational across Punjab and five new model bazaars are in the final stage of their completion.

The company has recently floated a tender of around Rs100 million for the establishment of new model bazaars in Punjab.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 12^th, 2017.