LAHORE: The government is going to set up Ramazan Sahulat stalls at the existing model bazaars and Sahulat bazaars wherever no model bazaar exists to provide 16 items (commodities) to the people on wholesale/concessional prices during Ramazan.

The Sahulat stalls and bazaars will be made operational before Feb 28.

The government has also finalised the plan to provide Rs10,000 cash assistance to each poor and needy person during Ramazan, Dawn has learnt.

“We have directed all assistant commissioners to set up Sahulat stalls/counters at all 10 model bazaars in Lahore situated at Mian Plaza (Johar Town), Sher Shah Colony, Chuhng, Raiwind, Township, Wahdat Colony, Sabzazar, Thokar, Harbanspura and China Scheme,” Deputy Commissioner Syed Musa Raza said while talking to Dawn on Thursday.

All 10 model bazaars in Lahore will have Sahulat stalls; the poor to get Rs10,000 cash assistance

“Hopefully, all these stalls would be set up in model bazaars well before Feb 28 as instructions have been passed to the ACs and respective zonal administrations of the Lahore Metropolitan Corporation,” he added.

According to Mr Raza, the districts without model bazaars would have Ramzan Sahulat bazaars. The items which would be provided to the people on wholesale prices include, potato, onion, tomato, garlic, pumpkin, lemon, banana, apple, dates, guava, melon, wheat flour, chicken, eggs, gram pulse and gram flour.

According to a letter sent to deputy commissioners across the province, the provision of aforementioned items must be ensured at wholesale rates. The DCs have also been asked to hold meetings with merchants and wholesale dealers for ensuring smooth supply of these items at Sahulat counters and bazaars.

Appropriate branding of the Sahulat stalls has also been ordered. The DCs would be liable to depute price control magistrates to ensure availability of these items at stalls at wholesale rates. Moreover, they (magistrates) would also be liable to ensure provision of all vegetables, fruits and essential commodities to the people as per notified price lists. The letter also binds the model bazaar management company to allocate a proper place to set up the Sahulat stalls at prominent places. It has also been asked to ensure cleanliness, security and other administrative and logistic arrangements.

While responding to a question, the Lahore DC said 300,000 needy/poor people in Lahore alone had been registered with the Punjab Social-Economic Registry and presently, the scrutiny is underway in this regard.

“After the scrutiny, all eligible people would be given Rs10,000 cash assistance each through banking transactions,” the DC said, adding that many of those who had been registered with this provincial programme were already registered with the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP).

Published in Dawn, February 21st, 2025