Sahulat Punjab Bazaar. Photo: APP (file)
RAWALPINDI:
The district administration has approved the establishment of only three Ramazan cart bazaars this year, discontinuing the long-standing system of establishing 16 subsidized Ramazan bazaars across the city. The three rickshaw bazaars will be set up near Allama Iqbal Park, at Haidri Chowk and at Chohar Chowk.
Following the instructions of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the Rawalpindi district administration has initiated special measures to provide relief to citizens during the holy month of Ramazan. 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.
One Ramadan bazaar will be set up in Chohar Chowk area under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner (cantonment), while two rickshaw bazaars at Iqbal Park and Haidri Chowk will be supervised by Deputy Commissioner (City) Iman Zafar.
Flour, sugar, pulses, vegetables, fruits and other essential products will be available at official and controlled prices to provide direct relief to the public.
The deputy commissioner has ordered that cleanliness measures be ensured, official price lists be prominently displayed and that the quality of products is not compromised. Price control magistrates have been directed to continuously monitor and take indiscriminate action against hoarders, profiteers and those charging excessive prices.
According to the district administration, the establishment of these Ramadan bazaars and carts will facilitate access to affordable and quality daily items and help curb inflation during the holy month.
Food inflation bites before the holy month
With the arrival of the holy month of Ramadan, prices of fruits and essential items for sehri and iftar have increased dramatically in the city’s open market, placing a heavy burden on consumers. The price magistrates seem powerless to stop the inflationary spiral.
In the open market, chickpea flour is sold at Rs 400 per kg, white chickpeas at Rs 430 per kg, red beans at Rs 400 per kg and premium large red beans at Rs 500 per kg. Cooking oil is priced at Rs 520 per kg (bag). Split chickpeas cost Rs 330 per kg, while black chickpeas are available at Rs 500 per kg.
Meat prices have also increased 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 is priced at Rs 230 per liter and yogurt at Rs 250 per kg.
Among fruits, guava is sold at Rs 200-250 per kg, pomegranate at Rs 700-650 per kg, grapes at Rs 500-650 per kg, papaya at Rs 400-400 per kg and apples at Rs 250-400 per kg.
Bananas are priced between Rs 220 and Rs 250 per dozen. Oranges, kinnow and sweet lime sell for between Rs 200 and Rs 400 a dozen, while coconuts are priced at 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 Rs 130 per kg; lemons at Rs 80 per kg; and colocasia at Rs 80 per kg.
The security plan comes into force
The Punjab Home Department has imposed the strictest security measures regarding 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 foods in restaurants, hotels, canteens and pushcarts for immediate consumption has been prohibited.
To ensure peaceful observance of Ramadan, the district administration and police have drawn up a comprehensive security plan.
All relevant departments have been put on alert to safeguard lives and properties of worshipers and maintain law and order.
Additional staff will be deployed at major mosques, imambargahs, Eidgahs and other places of worship. Special security measures will be implemented during Sehri, Iftar, Taraweeh and Friday congregations. More reinforcements may be called in on important nights, including Shab-e-Qadr.
Mobile and foot patrols will be increased in sensitive areas, while checkpoints will be established at key entry and exit points. Surveillance using CCTV cameras will be reinforced and control of suspicious people and vehicles will continue.
The traffic police have been ordered to devise special plans to ensure smooth flow of traffic around mosques and markets. Barriers will be installed at main assembly points to regulate entry and exit routes.
