- As the holy month of the Muslims draws near, the Punjab government has announced a subsidy, mainly for flour, in addition to Ramadan bazaars selling daily items at discounted rates to ease the poor fasting Muslim’s burden.
The Punjab government on Monday announced a subsidy of Rs 4 billion in Ramadan in a joint press conference.
A majority of this amount would be used to subsidise flour. “We will give a subsidy of Rs 4 billion for different items such as flour and batter, while the sugar, poultry and ghee industry has been taken onboard for discounted rates in Ramadan,” said Education Minister Rana Mashood Ahmed.
He further announced that the government planned to establish 350 Ramadan bazaars that would operate under the supervision of 1,381 magistrates. These magistrates would be responsible for controlling the quantity and quality of items and for ensuring fair prices.
The government would give a subsidy of Rs 100 per 20 kilogrammes of flour in the Ramadan bazaars, compared to the market rate of Rs 60 per 20 kilogrammes. Further, 1000 “Muhammadi Dastarkhwans” have been added to the government’s Ramadan Package to fulfill the requirements of the poor and deprived members of society.
Moreover, the federal government has given a subsidy of Rs 2 billion for the Utility Stores which would be be included in the Ramadan package for the first time ever.
“We are holding talks with Sugar mill owners and traders to facilitate the masses in Ramadan. Utility Stores would also set up their stalls in these bazaars to supply cheap daily use items,” Mashood told the media.
Additionally, Ramadan bazaars would also have a “green channel” with the Agriculture Department’s help to ensure that customers have access to fresh, good quality vegetables.
Food Minister Bilal Yaseen also briefed the media about the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) regime’s efforts of conducting visits all over the Punjab for ensuring the success of the Ramadan bazaars, adding that the government was acting to ensure price-control and check hoarding and artificial price hikes as well.
“We are very satisfied with the arrangements so far and the people and the media would definitely appreciate our efforts,” Yaseen added.
To a question on set prices for poultry and sugar, he said that the people could avail a discount of Rs 12 and Rs 8 on meat and chicken respectively during Ramadan.
Demand increases by three times during Ramadan, peaking during its first ten days, he noted. “That is why the challenge is not merely price control but ensuring all items’ availability in the bazaars,” he added.
Further, a senior Punjab Industries Department official said that elected representatives and administrative officers have been directed to make Ramadan bazaars a success. “This time, the government is in no mood to tolerate any irresponsible and lazy attitudes shown by those in charge,” he stressed.
He said that complaint centers would be set up at all the Ramadan bazaars to redress the citizens’ grievances immediately and effectively. Moreover, personnel from concerned departments would be present, and these centers would be in correspondence with DCO control rooms to resolve the complaints.
Additionally, temporary toilets for men and women and proper security arrangements would be made at the Ramadan bazaar venues, informed the official.
“The government is planning to award magisterial price-setting powers to honest officers for eliminating profiteering, and for establishing stalls of Utility Stores at the bazaars”, he said.
Further, a provincial minister would be made in-charge of every district to monitor the Ramadan bazaars.
Meanwhile, would-be customers at these bazaars such as Nigar Bibi from Ichra and Kashmala from Shadman among others stated that it was yet to be seen whether this subsidy would benefit society’s deserving sections or not. “Would there be a visible difference in prices at Ramadan bazaars? It would be very encouraging if the government adopted a rigorous strategy to control prices and problems like corruption and mismanagement in these bazaars,” they said.
Further, they stressed that the government should set up these bazaars at approachable sites, ensure hygiene and provide facilities like parking and toilets.
