People demand relief during Ramazan

Rawalpindi

Public has demanded of Punjab government to provide more relief to people through open market instead of setting up only 8 sasta bazaars in Rawalpindi during Ramazan.

They said that if government wants to provide relief to poor people then it should do so in open market where everybody could enjoy the subsidy throughout the month instead of only sasta bazaars where majority of people don’t go fearing low quality products.

The reliable sources told this scribe that city district government, Rawalpindi is hiring staff for Ramazan Sasta Bazaars for a month as already there was shortage of staff in every department.

As per routine, Punjab government provides maximum relief on Atta while Rs2 to Rs5 per kilogram on sugar and Rs5 to Rs10 on other items like vegetables, fruits and drinks.

Shahzad Ahmed, a poor man from Tench Bhatta said that city district government, Rawalpindi has literally failed to provide good quality products on reasonable rates to people at Ramazan Sasta Bazaars. The hopes of public shatter after looking at the quality and prices of all items particularly fruit, meat and chicken at ‘Ramazan Sasta Bazaars’. “If Punjab government really wants to provide us relief then it should decrease prices in all open market shops for a month where 100 per cent people could enjoy maximum relief,” he advised.

Muhammad Bashir Awan, a senior citizen from Dhoke Kala Khan said that more than 70 per cent people could not approach sasta bazaars due to busy schedule and long distance. “It is difficult for us to visit sasta bazaars on regular basis. If Punjab government wants to provide relief then it should decrease prices on all items in the open market for a month,” he appealed.

Shazia Maqbool, a house lady said that as per routine, local administration will fail to ensure quality of essential food items in ‘sasta bazaars’ as profiteers sell substandard items on higher prices. There is little margin in prices of ‘Ramazan Sasta Bazaar’ and open market, but the quality of sasta bazaar items is far poorer than the open market, she said. Therefore there was less rush witnessed at the ‘Ramazan Sasta Bazzars’, she said.