RAWALPINDI: The special branch has been assigned to carry out a survey of the ‘Sahulat Bazaars’, commonly known as Ramazan bazaars, to ensure that the consumers are provided food items at subsidised rates and the bazaars are secured by the police.

In its report to the Punjab government it has revealed that substandard, rotten fruit and vegetables were being sold in Sahulat Bazaars set up in Rawalpindi while quality of flour was also not up to the mark.

The Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had announced Rs5 billion Ramazan package aimed at providing food items and essential commodities at subsidised rates to the people on 346 Ramazan Bazaars, set up across the province.

Of the 346 bazaars, as many as seven Sahulat Bazaar were set up in Rawalpindi city and Cantonment areas.

More than 1,300 price magistrates were deputed to keep a check on the prices of essential food items, being sold in the province-wide bazaars.

The report said the special branch field staff also noticed shortage of essential food items and poor cleanliness in the market.

The stallholders were also found separating quality food item from rotton ones and selling them at exorbitant rates. Eggs and meat were also available at exorbitant rates at the bazaars, the report said.

The special branch staff reported that only one policeman carrying a baton was deployed at the bazaar to provide security while there was no close circuit television camera or any emergency service like medical aid.

If a consumer argues with the shopkeeper why he was charging more than the government rates, it results in the exchange of hot words and sometime it led to a quarrel.

It also pointed out that a couple of days before the start of Ramazan, the fruit like mangoes were being sold on Rs80 to Rs90 per kg but as the first Ramazan started, its price shot up to Rs150 to Rs180 per kg.

The special branch in its report also suggested to improve security of the bazaars and to ensure the cleanliness.

Published in Dawn, July 2nd, 2014