ISLAMABAD: Edible items including fruit and vegetables in weekly bazaars are available at reduced rates as compared to those in the open market.

Last week, Chief Commissioner Amer Ali Ahmed who is also acting chairman of Capital Development Authority (CDA) issued a directive stating instead of CDA, the deputy commissioner’s office will determine the prices at weekly bazaars.

ICT officials said prices of items were decreased by five to 15pc in weekly bazaars after this order was issued.

“On the directions of the chief commissioner, price regulation meeting was conducted by the ICT administration to fix prices in the weekly bazaars where representatives of the bazaar, market committee and food department were present,” said assistant commissioner Awaid Irshad Bhatti.

A meeting to discuss price regulation will be held every week. Prices are being monitored regularly at the bazaars and fines are imposed on those violating the official price list. The bazaars are set up in H-9, G-10, G-6, I-9 and Bhara Kahu.

DC Hamza Shafqaat told Dawn that now his office issues rate lists of weekly bazaars and the district administration ensures that these rates are implemented. He said CDA, after developing bazaars had handed them over to vendors against nominal charges so they could provide vegetables, fruits and other edible items to citizens at subsidised rates, but for the last few years, there was no significant difference in rates of weekly bazaars and open markets.

Published in Dawn, February 26th, 2021