Preparing for Ramazan: Govt to set up soup kitchens, subsidise food markets

Philanthropists asked to donate generously.

LAHORE:

The government will establish as many as 350 Ramazan Bazaars, 350 fair price shops and 1,000 dastarkhwans (soup kitchens) in the province, so people can buy subsidised food during the month of Ramazan, The Express Tribune has learnt.

The bazaars and shops would supply 25 food items including fruits, vegetables, gram and flour, at reduced prices. The Industries, Commerce and Investment Departments will monitor the performance, operations, demand and supply of food items in the bazaars, an official requesting anonymity said.

The Punjab government has issued guidelines regarding the initiative to all district governments.

Wheat flour would be heavily subsidised. A subsidy of Rs100 would be provided on a 20kg bag of flour at the bazaars and Rs60 in the open market. Sugar would not be subsidised. The government will ask sugar traders to reduce its price, the official said.

Chicken would be sold at the bazaars for Rs12 below the market price. The price of a dozen eggs would be Rs2 less than the market rate and a kilogramme of banaspati ghee Rs5 less than its market price.

The government has allocated Rs5 billion for subsidies on edibles, especially wheat flour, during Ramazan.

As many as 26 bazaars and 26 fair price shops would be set up in Lahore. They would open on the first day of fasting.

All district governments have been directed to arrange dasterkhwans where free sehri and iftari would be provided. City governments have been told to contact philanthropic organisations for donations to this facility.

District Price Control Committees have been told to notify prices of food items available in Ramzan Bazaars. The prices would be set in consultion with traders. The district administration has been directed to curtail the role of middlemen in the supply of commodities. The quality of fruits, vegetables and meat and poultry products would be checked by Agriculture and Livestock Departments. The labour officers would ensure the use of standard weights and measures.

Free sehari and iftari would be served at hospitals, railways stations, labour colonies and katchi abadis (squatter settlements).

Published in The Express Tribune, June 29^th, 2013.