Price control: 16 Ramazan bazaars to be set up in Pindi

RAWALPINDI: As core inflation rose to seven per cent, the government will be setting up discount markets for the upcoming holy month of Ramazan.

In this regard, the district administration has finalised arrangements to set up 16 Ramazan Sasta Bazaars (discount markets) to provide relief to the consumers by providing them with a space where they can buy products at subsidised rates, during the holy month.

Furthermore, 200 ‘madni dastarkhawans’ (spreads) would also be set up across the district to provide sehri and aftari for the poor and deserving citizens during the holy month of Ramazan.

The markets aim to sell daily use kitchen items such as flour, sugar, grains, basin, meat, chicken, onion, potatoes, oil and other daily-use products at affordable rates.

Additional Deputy Commissioner General (ADCG) Sara Hayat said that the district administration and the price control magistrate will be launching crackdowns against profiteers who were overcharging customers. Moreover, efforts would be made to provide relief to the public on items of daily use.

The aim of the crackdown, Hayat explained, was to ensure that the government recommended-prices are implemented.

The ADCG said that the markets will start working from Monday, May 14 and will operate well into the last week of Ramazan, until June 15.

In this regard, Hayat said that the agriculture department has been directed to set up fair price shops in markets.

To ensure that goods are provided at reasonable rates, Hayat said that the Ramazan bazaars and open markets will be monitored by the district administration and deputy commissioners while special price control magistrates would be appointed in every bazaar to keep a check on prices and quality of kitchen items.

Any trader found fleecing customers or selling sub-par products would be shown no leniency, she added.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 14^th, 2018.