Model bazaars in five districts from July

Complaints about quality, prices in Sunday and Friday bazaars persist.

LAHORE:

The provincial government will set up model bazaars in five districts of the province in July.

These would be in addition to the weekly bazaars arranged across the province on Sundays and Fridays by the town municipal administrations (TMAs). The model bazaars would later be established in 12 more districts.

In the first phase, three bazaars (664 stalls) would be established in Lahore, one each in Gujranwala (550 stalls), Sahiwal (187 stalls), Bahawalpur (210 stalls) and Rawalpindi (200 stalls). These would cost Rs234 million to the provincial government.

An official said the decision was taken following several complaints about the poor quality and high prices of food in Sunday and Friday bazaars. He said most of these markets were set up without space for parking and sitting facilities and that security arrangements were not adequate.

He said eatables, grocery, crockery and cloths would be available at these bazaars.

He said the model bazaars would have a designated parking lot, toilets, and playing and praying areas.

He said welfare societies registered under the society act would monitor prices and quality of food items. These committees would be headed by respective district coordination officers.

The bazaars would remain open for three to four days in a week.



Published in The Express Tribune, June 26^th, 2011.