LAHORE: The Lahorites have expressed wonder over a meagre difference in prices of various items in Ramazan bazaars than the open market and requested the government to do some serious efforts for ensuring availability of quality necessary things at cheaper rates rather than making tall claims.

“If potato is available at Rs13 per kg, it is being sold in open market at Rs14 or 15 per kg. It is really funny as who will bother to buy an item in Ramazan bazaars for Rs1 or 2 per kg saving,” deplores Nadeem, a shopper in Johar Town Sunday bazaar.

“Potato should be sold in Ramazan bazaars at Rs8 or 9,” he demands.

The government has issued a wide range of list of several items available in all 30 Ramazan bazaars. Some of them are available on subsidised rates while some are being sold on notified prices, less than those in the open markets. According to the list, among fruits and vegetables, apple (Kala Kullu) per kg price in fair price shops (one each in Sunday bazaars) is Rs166, while it, according to a spokesman, is available in open market at Rs172 per kg.

Banana is available in the Ramazan bazaars at Rs104 per dozen while it is being sold in open market at Rs110. The rates (both of bazaars and open markets) of other items are: garlic (Rs90 and Rs96), ginger (Rs190 and Rs200), sugar (Rs55 and 60 per kg), flour (Rs290 per 10kg bag, Rs380), mutton (Rs800 and 850), beef (Rs350 and 375), chicken meat (Rs244 and 254), eggs (Rs72 and 76), pumpkin (Rs65 and 69), Mash pulse (Rs130 and 134) and Masoor (Rs100 and 104). Similarly on other items too, a meager difference of prices is being witnessed in the Ramazan bazaars and the open market.

“The main items available on subsidised rates and thus attracting a huge rush of people in the bazaars are flour, sugar, dates, lemon, tomato, onion, pulse chana and rice. The major subsidies available in the bazaar include Rs28 on lemon (Rs177 per kg in the open market while the bazaar at Rs149 per kg), Rs25 on onion (Rs23 per kg in bazaars) and Rs39 on tomato (available in bazaars at the rate of Rs21),” a source told Dawn.

On the other hand, the people continue criticising the government for making tall claims rather than controlling the massive price hike.

“The government is doing nothing. Every day it comes up with new action to crush the people through raising POL prices and devaluing rupee. The government has failed to deliver,” declares Ehsaan, a shopper.

Chief Secretary: Chief Secretary Yousaf Naseem Khokhar visited on Tuesday several Ramazan bazaars in the city, heard complaints of consumers and issued directions for resolving their problems.

He was accompanied by Commissioner Mujtaba Piracha, and reviewed quality, demand and supply, prices of commodities and other arrangements in Ramazan bazaars of Islampura, Gulshan-i- Ravi, and Wahdat Colony, says a handout.

He said officers would have to work hard for making Ramazan bazaars beneficial for people in real sense. He said all officers had been assigned duties regarding visits to Ramazan bazaars, warning that no negligence would be tolerated in any case.

He asked the officers to pay surprise visits to Ramazan bazaars to ensure the best arrangements, adding that performance in this regard would be reviewed on a daily basis.

The chief secretary said the Punjab government was paying huge subsidy on selected eatables to provide relief to people during the holy month. He said that besides checking prices, strict check also be kept on quality, demand and supply to avoid shortage of any commodity.

He said the number of price control magistrates had been increased in the province to ensure availability of daily-use items at fixed prices in open market like Ramazan bazaars. He also issued directions regarding display of rate lists at shops, saying that the price control measures would continue till after Ramazan.

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2019