11 October 2004	Monday	25 Shaban 1425

LAHORE, Oct 10: The district Nazim has announced starting of 16 Ramazan Bazaars and 198 fair price shops for selling essential commodities at reduced prices during the holy month of fasting.

District Coordination Officer Khalid Sultan will notify the retail prices of essential commodities after consulting wholesalers and dealers in a day or two. The rates will be displayed outside the fair price shops and at the Ramazan Bazaars.

Speaking at a press conference here on Sunday, Nazim Mian Amer said the Ramazan Bazaars and fair price shops would start functioning a day before the commencement of Ramazan. These bazaars would be in addition to 15 Sunday Bazaars and a Wednesday Bazaar being held already.

He said two bazaars and 77 fair price shops would be started in Ravi Town, three bazaars and 20 shops in Shalamar Town, one bazaar and 36 shops in Aziz Bhatti Town, two bazaars and 28 shops in Data Ganj Bakhsh Town, two bazaars and 30 shops in Allama Iqbal Town and six bazaars and seven shops in Nishtar Town. No 'rehri' bazaar would be declared a Ramazan Bazaar.

He said the multinationals, manufacturers and big firms had also been persuaded to establish their stalls at the bazaars. A committee headed by Data Ganj Bakhsh Town Nazim Tariq Sana Bajwa would monitor prices.

Consumer committees had also been constituted at the police station level to assist the city district administration in monitoring the prices. Complaint offices headed by town officers would be set up in all Ramazan Bazaars to redress the grievances concerning overcharging.

He said the provincial government had authorized the district officer (revenue), deputy district officers (revenue) Town and Cantt, all town municipal officers, deputy district officers (registration) and tehsildars to try offences under the Punjab Local Government Ordinance 2001, the Pure Food Ordinance 1960 and the Price Control Act 1977 summarily.

He said the number of Ramazan Bazaars had been reduced this year as compared to the last year to ensure availability of quality consumer products. Special arrangements would be made to ensure the availability of flour, vegetable ghee, sugar, pulses, fruits and vegetables at the bazaars.

The Nazim said 900,000 20kg flour bags would be sold at the rate of Rs190 each during the month. Farmers were being issued green cards to bring their produce directly from the farm to the bazaars. Sugar would be sold at Rs19 per kg, while the Pakistan Vanaspati Manufacturers Association had assured the sale of vegetable ghee at Rs57 per kg.

He said 50 poultry fair price shops would be opened in the city for selling chicken Rs5 per kg below the open market rate. Prices of eggs would be reduced by Rs4 per dozen and milk in tetrapak by Rs4 per litre. Onions, potatoes and tomatoes would be sold at a no profit no loss basis at special stalls in Ramazan Bazaars.

The district Nazim said special security arrangements would be made at all Ramazan Bazaars. Uninterrupted gas, water and power supply would be ensured during the 'sehri' and 'iftari' times. Special arrangements would be made for free 'iftari' in mosques, he said.