Sahulat Bazar Punjab. Photo: APP (file)
RAWALPINDI:
The district administration has approved the establishment of only three Ramazan bazaars this year, ending the long-standing system of setting up 16 subsidized Ramazan bazaars across the city. The three cart bazaars will be set up near Allama Iqbal Park, Haidri Chowk and Chohar Chowk.
On the instructions of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the Rawalpindi district administration has launched special measures to provide relief to citizens during the holy month of Ramazan. Acting on the instructions of Deputy Commissioner Dr Hassan Waqar Cheema, Ramazan bazaars and cart bazaars are being established to ensure availability of essential food items at affordable and controlled prices.
A Ramazan bazaar will be established in Chohar Chowk area under the supervision of deputy commissioner (cantonment), while two cart bazaars at Iqbal Park and Haidri Chowk will be supervised by deputy commissioner (city) Iman Zafar.
Flour, sugar, pulses, vegetables, fruits and other essential commodities will be available at official and controlled rates to provide direct relief to the public.
The Deputy Commissioner ordered that cleanliness measures should be taken, official price lists should be displayed prominently and no compromise should be made on the quality of goods. Price control magistrates have been tasked with carrying out continuous monitoring and taking indiscriminate measures against hoarders, profiteers and those who charge excessive prices.
According to the district administration, the establishment of these Ramazan and cart bazaars will facilitate access to affordable and quality daily use items and help curb inflation during the holy month.
Food inflation is felt before the holy month
With the advent of the holy month of Ramazan, prices of fruits and essential commodities for sehri and iftar have increased significantly in the city’s open market, imposing a heavy burden on consumers. Price magistrates seem powerless to slow down the inflationary spiral.
In the open market, gram flour is sold at Rs 400 per kilogram, white gram at Rs 430 per kg, kidney beans at Rs 400 per kg and large premium kidney beans at Rs 500 per kg. Cooking oil costs Rs 520 per kg (sachet). Split chickpeas cost Rs 330 per kg, while black gram is available at Rs 500 per kg.
Meat prices have also risen sharply with mutton selling at Rs 2,600 per kg, beef at Rs 1,500 per kg and chicken at Rs 600 per kg. Milk costs Rs 230 per liter and yogurt costs Rs 250 per kg.
Among fruits, guava is sold between Rs 200 and 250 per kg, pomegranate between Rs 700 and 650 per kg, grapes between Rs 500 and 650 per kg, papaya between Rs 400 and 400 per kg and apples between Rs 250 and 400 per kg.
Bananas cost between Rs220 and Rs250 per dozen. Oranges, kinnow and lime sell for Rs 200 to Rs 400 per dozen, while coconuts cost Rs 500 each.
Vegetable prices show a similar upward trend: new potatoes are sold at Rs 40 per kg and old potatoes at Rs 80 per kg; onions at Rs 60 per kg; okra at Rs 250 per kg; peas at Rs 90 per kg; ginger at Rs 400 per kg; garlic at Rs 300 per kg; cauliflower at Rs 100 per kg; bitter gourd at Rs130 per kg; lemons at Rs80 per kg; and colocasia at Rs80 per kg.
The security plan comes into effect
The Punjab Home Department has imposed the strictest security measures in view of the holy month of Ramazan starting this week, imposing a complete ban on eating and drinking in open public places across the district.
The sale of ready-to-eat food in restaurants, hotels, canteens and carts for immediate consumption has been banned.
To ensure peaceful observance of Ramazan, the district administration and police have issued a comprehensive security plan.
All relevant services have been put on alert to protect the lives and property of worshipers and maintain public order.
Additional staff will be deployed to major mosques, imambargahs, Eidgahs and other places of worship. Special security measures will be implemented during Sehri, Iftar, Taraweeh and Friday congregations. Additional reinforcements could be called in on important nights, notably on Shab-e-Qadr.
Mobile and foot patrols will be reinforced in sensitive areas, while checkpoints will be set up at main entry and exit points. Surveillance by video surveillance cameras will be reinforced and checks on suspicious people and vehicles will continue.
The traffic police have been tasked with developing special plans to ensure smooth traffic flow around mosques and markets. Barriers will be installed at main assembly points to regulate entry and exit routes.
