BAHAWALPUR, Aug 16 At least 17 Ramazan bazaars have become functional from Sunday in all tehsil headquarters of the three districts of the Bahawalpur division.

The Ramazan bazaars set up under government's instructions will provide essential commodities to consumers on subsidized rates.

In Bahawalpur, the facility was opened at the TMA Park near the old press club building where some 300 shops, including grocery, fruits and vegetables, were allowed to operate.

The sugar is available here for Rs40 per kg, ghee for Rs112 per kg and 20kg flour bag for Rs200 each.

Divisional Commissioner Muhammad Mushtaq Ahmad accompanied by DCO Dr Naeem Rauf inspected the Ramazan Bazaar and expressed his satisfaction over the availability of essential goods at reduced prices.

The commissioner told reporters that magistrates would monitor the price index in all tehsils and violators would be punished.

He said that a green channel facility had been provided to shopkeepers and they would directly purchase vegetables from landlords, eliminating any role of the middlemen.