ISLAMABAD: Sasta bazaars set up by the district administration remained crowded on Saturday but citizens were disappointed over the rates of edible items, especially fruits.

According to details, 35 fair price shops and four Sasta Ramazan bazaars set up in Islamabad by the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration have started working from Saturday.

Sasta bazaars are working at G-7, near Khyber Plaza, Pakistan Town, Rawat and Bhara Kahu. Similarly, 17 fair price shops have been set up in the rural areas and 18 in the urban areas.

But with the start of Ramazan, prices of edible items, especially fruits, have been increased due to which it has become impossible for citizens to purchase them.

Shahid Nazir, a resident, said he went to Sasta bazaar and found that grapes were Rs300 per kg. Dates were Rs200 per kg and apples Rs150 per kg.

“It is not possible for a common citizen to buy fruits for Iftar. Besides, quality of fruits and other edible items was bad. District administration should ensure quality,” he said.

Malik Amjad, another citizen, said there should be a proper mechanism to control prices from fruit and vegetable markets. If there are high prices in fruit and vegetable markets, how can they be sold at a cheaper rate?

Bakers and sweet shops were also crowded on the first day of Ramazan. In Sector F-10 at Jameel Sweets and in Sector G-9 at Nazir Foods, residents were anxious to buy food items for Iftar. They purchased traditional delicacies: samosas, pakoras and other fried items.

A citizen, Naeem Ahmed, said although every one knows that fried items are injurious to health as they increase cholesterol level and blood pressure, it has become part of our culture to have fried items at the time of Iftar.

According to a press release, on the special directions of Adviser to the Prime Minister on Interior Affairs Rehman Malik, Deputy Commissioner, Islamabad, Amir Ali Ahmed, visited G-7 Sasta Ramazan Bazaar on Saturday and reviewed rates of food items in the bazaar and issued strict directions to the Sub-Divisional Magistrate(City) Mohammad Ali and food department officials to ensure stability of prices of food items including fruits and vegetables in Ramazan Sasta bazaars and their quality should also be ensured by all means.

Rates of food items should be displayed and implemented and monitored by the magistrates without fail.