People flock to markets as Ramazan begins

Roads in and around markets witness heavy congestion

RAWALPINDI: Markets in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi were full of people on Monday who were making purchases ahead of the first Sehri and Iftari of Ramazan this year.

Citizens could be seen purchasing essential items such as vegetables, fruits and bakery items from markets. Some also visited the 16 Sasta Bazaars set up by the district administration in this regard.

Some vendors cashed in on this opportunity by allegedly indulging in profiteering. Moreover, transporters including rickshaw drivers, taxi drivers and Qinqi’s — who have seen fuel costs skyrocket in recent days — also hiked their fares.

In Rawalpindi, main markets including Raja Bazar, Bani Chowk, Ghalla Mandi, Trunk Bazaar, Bohr Bazar, Dilgaran Bazar, Vegetable Market and other wholesale markets saw a rush of people and congested traffic throughout Monday.

Moreover, traffic on the main roads including Kutchery Square, Murir Chowk, Murree Road, Saddar Road, Liaquat Road, Iqbal Road, Bani Chowk, Syedpur Road and Jamia Masjid Road was heavily congested, moving at a snail’s pace.



Sasta Bazaar in capital

In the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), the district administration there has established four subsidised bazaars to facilitate residents in the holy month of Ramazan.

The bazaars have been set up at the Public Works Department (PWD) Housing Society, Tarnol, Tarlai and Sector G-7, an ICT official said on Monday.

He added that subsidised rates for flour, ghee, lentils and meat had also been approved while the prices of fritters, samosas are also being notified.

Moreover, he said the city administration would ensure the availability of all daily-use commodities at these markets.

Further, price magistrates have already been notified and special teams were being constituted to control hoarding and illegal profiteering, he added. The official said that special directives have also been issued to prominently display rate lists of all commodities.



Iftaar at shelter home

The government has decided to provide sehri and iftari during the holy month of Ramazan to the inmates of the shelter home at Fawara Chowk in Rawalpindi.

Moreover, the three big hospitals in the city, including the Benazir Bhutto General Hospital (BBH), Holy Family Hospital (HFH) and the District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ) where mini shelters have been set up and see thousands of people visit every day — will lay out free dinner spreads for visitors.

Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) Chairman Arif Abbasi confirmed that all visitors and occupants of the shelter home will be served with sehri and iftari.

He added that with summer starting, they have installed a pedestal fan with each bed in the shelter home for the comfort of the homeless inmates.

The RDA chairman further said that those who take up residence in the shelter home will be served with vermicelli and desserts along with breakfast.

Further, he said that some philanthropic people will be setting up around 25 dinner spreads around the city on Murree Road, Committee Chowk, the General Bus Stand in Pirwadhai, Adiyala road, Gulzar-e-Quaid and other locations in the city.

Wheelies at sehri, iftari banned

The Rawalpindi City Traffic Police (CTP) has decided to take strict action against youngsters, including sending them to jail, for one-wheeling in Ramazan, particularly around sehri and iftar times.

This was stated by Rawalpindi Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Muhammad Bin Ashraf on Monday.

Dilating on security and traffic arrangements made for the city during Ramazan, he said the special squads of the traffic police have been deputed along the city’s roads.

But now, several other arrangements have also been made to curb the dangerous activity especially on Murree Road, Committee Chowk — near the underpass, Chandni Chowk Flyover, Sixth Road Flyover, Airport Road, Peshawar Road, Jhelum Road near Ayub Park and other areas of the city where one-wheeling had been frequently observed.

He added that deputy superintendents of police, inspectors, duty officers and respective beat in-charges have been directed to take strict action against one-wheelers.

Further, this ban should cover all roads of the city, including the cantonment area.

Moreover, night duty officers have also been arranged to check on severe traffic rule violations including one-wheeling, he informed.

Those found violating traffic rules will be arrested and sent to jail while being booked under Section-99/A.

Ashraf added that one-wheelers were not only playing with their own lives but they were also a threat for other road users. He further said that traffic wardens have been directed to take effective measures in this regard during the campaign.

He added that most traffic accidents could be averted if proper precautionary measures were adopted with strict observance of traffic rules.

WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM APP 

Published in The Express Tribune, May 7^th, 2019.