Yielding results: Feedback on Ramazan Bazaars is encouraging, says Shahbaz

Consumers can now shop at the bazaars without producing ID cards

LAHORE: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Saturday the government was spending billions of rupees on providing essentials at affordable rates at Ramazan Bazaars across the province.

“Good quality flour, pulses, fruits and vegetables are available at Ramazan Bazaars,” the chief minister told a meeting of the Provincial Price Control Committee at Civil Secretariat through video link.

Sharif said political and administrative machinery had been asked to ensure that the common man benefited from the Ramazan package announced by the government. He said feedback from the public had been satisfactory and credit for this went to provincial monitoring committees and the officials concerned.

The chief minister directed provincial ministers, advisers, special assistants and secretaries to visit Ramazan Bazaars regularly and submit reports. He said the government had done its best to make the bazaars a success. He said those overcharging customers would be dealt with strictly.

“No one will be allowed to exploit the buyers at the bazaars.” He praised the Cabinet Committee for Price Control for making arrangements at Ramazan Bazaars. He ordered that commodities be supplied to the bazaars in abundance.

“There should be no shortage of essentials at Ramazan Bazaars. Price of every item should be clearly displayed,” he said. He said people would now be able to buy sugar without showing their identity cards.

The chief minister ordered the authorities to make appropriate parking arrangements for the customers. He ordered that fans and air-coolers be installed at the bazaars.

Provincial Ministers Rana Sanaullah, Bilal Yasin, Muhammad Shafiq, Farrukh Javed, Special Assistant to Chief Minister Arshad Jutt and the chief secretary attended the meeting.

Separately, Health Secretary Jawwad Raffique Malik visited Ramazan Bazaars in Islampura and Shadman on Saturday. He checked price lists and inspected the quality of mutton, fruits and vegetables. He sought customers’ feedback on the quality and prices of essentials.

No CNICs

DCO Capt (retd) Muhammad Usman on Saturday directed city government officials managing various Ramazan Bazaars in the city to ensure that no customer was asked for a computerised identity card (CNIC) for sale of sugar. He issued the directive on reports that vendors in various bazaars were selling sugar only to customers carrying a CNIC on them.

The DCO earlier visited bazaars in China Scheme and Begam Kot as well the vegetable and fruits market in Badami Bagh to review arrangements and check prices.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 21^st, 2015.