SIALKOT, Oct 2: Sale of substandard daily use items, that too at exorbitant rates, in Ramazan bazaars has led to a sharp decline in the number of shoppers.

The City District Government Sialkot has set up Ramazan bazaars in Sialkot City, Cantonment, Daska, Bhopalwala, Sambrial, Ugoki, Pasrur, Chawinda and Badiana.

There was a great rush of people in Ramazan bazaars in the first three and four days of the holy month but owing to unabated sale of substandard items at higher prices the number of shoppers had declined.

Talking to newsmen, various consumers said the district administration had announced a special relief for the people by providing daily use items at subsidised rates but it failed to honour its commitment.

Shopkeepers said prices of daily commodities fixed by the district administration were actually “unrealistic”.

An angry consumer said the government had played with the sentiments of the poor by establishing these bazaars. He said there was no official check on these bazaars.

Another consumer said there was no point in buying substandard items at exorbitant rates when one could get quality stuff from markets at the same rates.

Yet another buyer said the government had miserably failed to keep an eye on profiteers. He said not a single government official or minister bothered to visit these bazaars.

Talking to this scribe, traders and shopkeepers said they were facing financial losses in the absence of buyers. They also blamed the government for failing to attract buyers to the bazaars.