Ramazan sasta bazaars closed down

All 16 Ramazan and Sasta Eid bazaars set up the Rawalpindi district to provide low-cost and subsidised food items to citizens have been closed down.’

Sources said that subsidies have been ended on pulses, sugar, ghee, and oil basins in these markets and utility stores.

On Monday morning, the district administration removed the security subsidy rates from all of the sasta Ramazan bazaars and instructed citizens to buy from the market. All stalls of these Sasta Ramazan bazaars have beenremoved and the police on duty have been relieved.

As a result of elimination of the subsidy, sugar price has gone up to Rs100 per kg, flour to Rs550 per 10 kg bag, gram flour (basin) Rs110 and Rs180 per kg, ghee at Rs260 to Rs475 per kg, oil at Rs275 to Rs500 per kg, Mutton at Rs1500 per kg Beef at Rs900 per kg, milk at Rs150 per litre, yogurt at Rs160 per kg, chicken at Rs270 per kg, vchicken meat at Rs380 per kg, eggs at Rs145 per dozen.

Similarly, lemons is being sold at Rs750 per kg, tomatoes at Rs250 per kg, onion at Rs70 per kg, potatoes at Rs40 per kg, coriander green at Rs22 per twing, apples at Rs250 per kg, banana at Rs160 per dozen, grapes at Rs400 per kg and peaches are being sold at Rs250 per kg.

Meanwhile, with the end of Ramazan sasta bazaars, the administration has withdrawn the magisterails powers given to officers of the reveue department to enforce official rates and monitor price rates.

All the 100 price magistrates have gone on leave due to celebrate Eidul Fitr. The vegetable and fruit markets will remain closed for three days of Eid.

The wholesale supply of vegetables, fruit, pulses, sugar, ghee and flour will be completely cut off due to closure of markets on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday for three days.

On the three days of Eid, old stocks of fruit and vegetables will be sold at higher prices.

Due to the lack of supply, the price hike will continue till Friday.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 3^rd, 2022.