SUNDAY bazaars [in Punjab] are set up to facilitate citizens but at times [they fail to achieve their purpose]. A recent media report ... reveals that the food authority officers have ‘gone missing’ from Sunday bazaars, giving the adulteration mafia a free hand. The prime objective of setting up Sunday bazaars had been to provide pure, fresh and standard food items at economical prices.

Setting up Sunday bazaars at several places [was supposed to facilitate] people, enabling them to get standard items at subsidised prices near their homes and saving them from the hassle of going to far-off places….

It is now the responsibility of the food authority to ensure provision of adulteration-free items at these … bazaars…. Previously, it was the duty of food inspectors. However, for the last four months or so the food authorities have neither deputed any official nor [has] any officer bothered to visit any Sunday bazaar. It is the main reason that [these] bazaars have lost their utility….

In the absence of a system of checks and balances, everyone there is free to act at will…. An exorbitant increase in the prices of (essential) commodities has already made the life of [common people] miserable but adding to their woes are the parking problems near … Sunday bazaars. Traffic jams around certain [markets] are routine.

…A majority of visitors … have been protesting over the provision of substandard items. The buyers have been complaining that the sellers start quarrelling or even threatening of dire consequences when they argue about the prices or standard (of items). Keeping in view the utility of these bazaars, there is consensus that their numbers should be increased but attention should also be given to improve the system. The authorities should direct the food authority to immediately depute its officials in these bazaars. Senior officers of the food authority should visit these bazaars to keep themselves abreast of the situation there….—(Dec 20)

Selected and translated by Zaheer Mahmood Siddiqui.