Qeemat app to modernise shopping experience

App will help citizens lodge complains about profiteering

LAHORE: The Punjab government has developed Qeemat Punjab app to counter profiteering and price hike of the essential items in the province. The app will also help improve the quality of food items and provide analysis to the authorities concerned.

A warm response from the citizens was seen after the launch of Qeemat Punjab app. They were of the view that the app would resolve the issue of home delivery and quality food.

Most of the citizens who used this app said the provincial government has taken a revolutionary step in connection with quality food at their doorstep on affordable and actual rates in the form of Qeemat Punjab app. Citizens can also register their complaints regarding prices or quality of the items bought.

The app has been developed by the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) with a vision to provide food items at the doorstep of citizens in a short time.

In the first phase, this app has been launched in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Islamabad and Multan and received an overwhelming response within  a short span of its start. A large number of citizens used it and also expressed satisfactory views.

Initially, a total of 46 items including fruits and vegetables are listed in Fresh Online order form. The app is especially useful for housewives and people who cannot go outside for shopping of food items. Besides, it is also useful for those citizens who wish to avoid tiresome traffic or going through a busy market with multiple shopping bags.

To place an order, a user will select the Fresh Online tab from Qeemat app, select tehsil and then select the items desired from the list and finally enter the quantity. The bill will appear on the top of the screen of the users’ mobile phone. The necessary shipping details and pin location also need to be set from the map.

The order will be placed with cash on delivery (COD) mode of payment. User can see the status of the order in scheduled orders and also orders history. Lahore being a major populated city is providing the service in five Tehsils — Tehsil Model Town, Tehsil Lahore City, Tehsil Lahore Cantt, Tehsil Shalimar and Tehsil Raiwind.

To discourage profiteering by the shopkeepers, this citizen-centric app, initially launched on April 23, 2019, got tremendous response and has so  far been downloaded by more than 600,000 users across Punjab. Out of 23,646 registered complaints, 23,516 have been resolved.

Khalil Ahmad, a resident of Garden Town said he downloaded and used the app and was surprised by the experience. “I used this app after getting information about this app and it was a fantastic experience for me. It is convenient and useful. The order was delivered on time and the quality was also up to the expectations,” he said.

“I hope that the public will get the maximum benefit out of this app.” The app also provides information to the citizens about the government’s notified prices of essential commodities and facilitates them to lodge complaints against profiteering.

PITB Chairman Azfar Manzoor said the district governments used the mobile app to monitor home delivery orders as part of a pilot project initiated in Lahore and a few other cities of Punjab.

An official said deputy commissioners concerned in relevant cities, the industries department and the Punjab Information Technology Board will handle this app. The officials from these departments across Punjab will operate this app. “We are getting an overwhelming response from the public and it is our priority to expand this app to other cities of Punjab,” he said. The official said in the coming week the app would also be launched in other cities of Punjab with Gujranwala and Sialkot top on the list.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 1^st, 2020.