Grocery shopping: Women vendors doing well at Sunday Bazaar

Contrary to earlier reports that the local govt was going to ban them from markets, female vendors are welcome.

LAHORE: Female vendors are a rising and welcome presence at the city’s Sunday Bazaars, contrary to earlier reports that the local government was going to ban them from the markets because of their allegedly disruptive presence.

At the Nishtar Town Sunday Bazaar, one of the largest in the city, some 100 of the 340 stalls there yesterday were run by female vendors.

Many female customers said they felt more comfortable in dealing with a female vendor than males.

Some female vendors said that they had been setting up stalls in the bazaar for more than two years and it had become one of the main sources of their income. They said they felt safer selling items in the Sunday Bazaars than at roadsides and could also bring their children along.

Parveen, one of the vendors, said that she never faced any problem in getting permission to set up her stall at the Nishtar Town Sunday Bazaar. “Male buyers often quarrel with us on price issues.

They think we charge higher rates and misbehave as well. Female visitors are easier to deal with,” she said.

Female vendors said that they were better than the male vendors at dealing with female customers, who vastly outnumbered male customers, buying cutlery, food items and garments.

Another vendor, Shagufta, said that the profit she made from selling food items at the bazaar went to helping her husband run their household. “My profit reaches up to Rs1,000 every week. On some days, I manage to make as much as Rs1,400,” she added.

A female vendor from Chungi Amar Sidhu said that she always followed the price list so she never faced any problems with shoppers or the administration concerning overcharging.

A female shopper at the Sunday Bazaar said that she had never faced any price or behaviour issues with the female vendors.

“I find them rather supportive and humble,” she said. She said she had seen very few female vendors violate the price list. Some three weeks ago, newspapers citing a tehsil municipal officer reported that the new district coordination officer (DCO), Ahad Cheema, had ordered the exclusion of female vendors from Sunday Bazaars, a week after taking over the office.

The DCO denied issuing any such orders. “I issued no such orders. In fact, we appreciate the participation of women vendors at these markets,” he said.

Chicken meat more expensive at Sunday Bazaars

Chicken was selling at higher prices in the Sunday Bazaars than outside yesterday. Vendors said that hardly any customers were buying chicken and sales were noticeably down from previous Sundays. Chicken was selling for as much as Rs150 per kg, compared to Rs120 per kg in regular markets.

Dr Tajamul, deputy district officer at the Livestock Department, said the price was higher because it was better quality meat. “The chicken sold at Sunday Bazaars does not include the innards. Those who sell it outside the market include innards in the whole price. That is the why it’s sold at slightly higher rates.” The price was also bumped up slightly by the middle man supplying the market, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 6^th, 2010.