More Sahulat Bazaars to be set up in Punjab

Unable to control prices at the wholesale and retail markets, the Punjab government has decided to set up more discount bazaars to help people buy staples at controlled rates.

The provincial government has planned to extend the network of Sahulat Bazaars to other cities of the Rawalpindi division with the establishment of 15 markets in Attock, Jhelum, and Chakwal district, officials of the commissioner office told The Express Tribune.

The citizens will get daily-use commodities including flour, sugar, rice, dairy items, meat, fruits, and vegetables from these markets at official rates.

Currently 12 Sahulat Bazaars are providing daily use items to people at various areas of Rawalpindi.

The district administration will set up four Sahulat Bazzars in Jhelum at different locations including Machine Colony No. 2; Railway Road, Dina; Bohar Chowk, GT Road; and Muhammadi Chowk, Pind Dadan Khan. Further, five bazaars would be set up in Chakwal on Pinwal Road, Mianwali-Talagang Road, Bazaar Chowk Kallar Kahar, Milad Chowk, and Lari Adda Lawa.

The locations selected for the establishment of markets in Attock include Sabzi Mandi Road, Fawwara Chowk Hazro City, GT Road, General Bus Stand Fatejhang, Purani Sabzi Mandi in Pindi Gheb, and Wagon Stand Sabzimandi Jand.

Sources said that the Rawalpindi Commissioner Muhammad Mehmood had issued directions to the deputy commissioners (DCs) of the related districts to complete all arrangements for setting up the markets.

He added that the DCs would be responsible to ensure the presence of price magistrates and the availability of daily-use items.

The administration will make arrangements for cleanliness along with clean drinking water and sitting space for the elderly, women, and children.

It would be mandatory for the stallholders in all Sahulat Bazaars to sell items at official rates while the government would keep an eye on the activities in the markets through the police special branch. The vendors will face action upon complaints.

After the establishment of new Sahulat Bazaars, the total figure in the Rawalpindi division would reach 27 with 12 of them being in the garrison city.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 22^nd, 2020.