LAHORE, Aug 17: The city district government could not ensure adequate flour supply at the Sunday Bazaars where vendors charge at will for vegetables and fruits that were also in short supply.

Long queues were seen in front of vehicles offering 20-kilo flour bags at the official price in almost all Sunday Bazaars where all vegetables and fruits were being sold equal to or more than the open market prices. The number of vendors outside the makeshift markets also registered a considerable increase.

The gravity of situation could be judged from the fact that only 43,800 20-kilo flour bags could be made available instead of 66,500 till 2pm at all Sunday Bazaars.

District Coordination Officer Sajjad Ahmad Bhutta suspended two sub-inspectors of the Kot Lakhpat market committee from service and was annoyed at the short supply of essential commodities at these makeshift marts.

Sunday Bazaars are held at Shadman Link Road, Wahdat Colony, Baghbanpura, Shadbagh, GT Road near Shalamar Gardens, Gulshan-i-Ravi, Moon Market of Allama Iqbal Town, Sabzazaar, R Block of Model Town, Green Town, G Block of Wapda Town, Jallo Mor, Ravi Road and opposite to Rangers headquarters.

Onion and potato were not available at most of such markets. At Shadman, the DCO himself supervised the sale of three sacks of onions at Rs22 per kilo that a vendor was hiding. At Islampura, the DCO ordered the market committee officials to arrange ample quantity of lentils while directing the district officer (food) to ensure the availability of remaining 22,700 flour bags at the Sunday Bazaars till sunset.