‘Sasta Ramazan Bazaars’ on the cards
A salesman sits idle in Jodia Bazaar the wholesale market of pulses, grains and spices. Shopkeepers say sales are dropping as prices continue to climb upwards. Photo: express
The district administration has finalised the plan to ensure the supply of essential food items including vegetables, gram flour, dates, fruits and chicken at affordable prices during the Holy month of Ramazan.
Under the plan, 16 daily ‘Sasta Ramazan Bazaars’ and 20 ‘Sasta Stall Bazaars’ will be set up in the Rawalpindi district.
Sources said the agriculture department will also set up 20 cheap agricultural stalls to provide pulses, vegetables and gram flour at subsidised rates.
According to sources, sugar, flour, and chicken will be available at subsidised prices in every Sasta Ramazan Bazaar.
Assistant commissioners, tahsildars and naib tahsildars will be in-charge of the Sasta Ramazan Bazaars.
The bazaars will be open from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm from the first day of the Holy month until the 29th.
The sources said that at least 60 price control magistrates will be appointed across the district to ensure price control.
Pulses, rice, fruits, white gram, sugar, flour, gram flour along with vegetables will be available at subsidized rates in these cheap markets, the sources added.
All Sasta Ramazan Bazaars will be established five days before the month of Ramazan.
Officials of the police and civil defence department will be deployed for the security of the markets.
Three to five civil defence volunteers will be deployed in every Sasta Ramazan Bazar. Walk-through gates and 10-15 closed-circuit cameras will be installed in each market.
It has also been decided to keep trolleys for goods in the bazaars. Parking will be set up for cars and motorcycles at some distance from these markets.
Ladies police and female civil defence personnel will also be deployed for searching of women.
In Rawalpindi, the Sasta Ramazan Bazaars will be set up at Committee Chowk, Allama Iqbal parking area, Khayaban-e-Sir Syed, Dhok Hasu, Gulzar-e-Quaid, Chakri, Adiala Road, Chungi No. 22, Chauhar Chowk, Dhok Rata, Chaklala and Morgah.
Besides, one Sasta Ramazan Bazaar will also be set up in each tehsil of Rawalpindi.
According to sources, free stalls will be given to wholesale dealers and farmers in the bazaars and the deputy commissioner will directly supervise these bazaars.
All markets will be covered with tents while arrangements will be made to protect the citizens from rain and sunlight.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 3rd, 2023.