RAWALPINDI: A day before the holy month of Ramazan, the administration kicked off Ramazan bazaars in the district where wheat, sugar, fruits, vegetables, and chicken would be available at a reasonable price.

Deputy Commissioner Dr Hassan Waqar Cheema said that the district administration launched a crackdown against profiteering from February 1, and imposed Rs2.4 million fines on shopkeepers, which were the highest fines across the province.

“Traders had been warned that cases would be registered if anyone of them was found profiteering and hoarding in the district,” he said.

He said Ramazan Bazaars had been activated in eight places - Shamsabad, Haideri Chowk, Chur Chowk, Chak Beli Khan, Kahuta, Gujar Khan, Taxila and Kallar Syedan.

He said that assistant commissioners had been asked to ensure the quality of food items and prices of the stallholders.

“We asked the wholesale market to establish their stalls and provide food items on reasonable rates so people will not pay extra money to shopkeepers,” he said.

He said that the provincial government wanted to facilitate people in the city, and in this regard, the assistant commissioners had been asked to daily check the market rates. A report will be sent to the chief secretary and the chief minister’s office on a daily basis.

Meanwhile, Commissioner Amir Khattak directed that full security be provided to people along with other facilities in the Ramazan Bazaars.

He said that deputy commissioners should visit Ramazan Bazaars to ensure the availability of the desired stock.

He also directed to maintain the duty record of the staff deployed in the Ramazan Bazaars and ensure the availability of all designated staff to facilitate the public.

He expressed these views while presiding over a meeting held at the Commissioner’s Office Rawalpindi.

The meeting was attended by the deputy commissioner and other concerned officials, whereas deputy commissioners of Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal, and Murree participated through video link.

Published in Dawn, March 2nd, 2025