It’s far from festive on a Thursday evening at the Ramazan bazaar set up at the Wahdat Colony ground. The vendors look on intently from within their makeshift tent shops, but only get an occasional customer.

“On the third roza, it already seems that people have stopped hosting iftar parties at their homes,” comments Mulazim Hussain, a fruit vendor. “We saw huge crowds [of buyers] on Sunday, a day before the Ramazan. After that, there’s been a lull.”

The Wahdat Colony Ramazan bazaar boasts more than 100 retailers of fruits, vegetables and grocery items. About a dozen porters, sporting orange shirts, are seen lying about. A young man on a motorbike pulls by. He wants to know the price of strawberries.

“Sir, we’ve got very fresh and delicious fruit. Aap k liye special, strawberry is for Rs 400 [per kg],” an excited fruit vendor replies.

The man, who introduces himself as a school teacher, rejects the price. “At another place, it was being sold at Rs 300 [per kg]. I don’t know if this is a Ramazan bazaar or a loot maar bazaar,” he says, before moving on to the next shop.

The vendor tries to explain that the rates of vegetables and fruits could not be fixed, and therefore it was wrong to expect major discounts.

Weeks ahead of the holy month, the city district government begins preparations for Ramazan-related activities. Making arrangements for subsidised bazaars is always a priority. Over the past two years, however, the number of Ramazan bazaars in the city has dwindled. Last year, the caretaker government distributed free flour bags among those deemed ‘deserving.’ It turned out to be a bloody affair, causing several deaths in stampedes at the flour distribution points. This year, the provincial government introduced the Ramazan Nigahban Relief Package 2024, which involves 6.5 million relief hampers to be given away to deserving families at their doorstep. Despite such relief efforts, the government decided not to abolish the Ramazan bazaars entirely but rather reduce their number — from 31 to 10 in Lahore. These 10 Ramazan bazaars are located at Thokar Niaz Baig, in Johar Town, China Scheme, Chuhng, Harbanspura, Raiwind, Sabzazar, Sher Shah Colony, Township and Wahdat Colony.

“These are not dedicated Ramazan bazaars; rather these are model bazaars that have been designated [as Ramazan bazaars],” says a spokesperson for the Industries Department, which oversees the operations of the model bazaars.

Mukhtar Awan, a social activist based in Gulberg, expresses dismay at the development. He says he’s “badly missing the fun we used to have at the grand Ramazan bazaar at Ghalib Market.” This bazaar was initiated by Shahbaz Sharif during his second term as chief minister.

Awan recalls how “the shops came fitted with air-conditioning. Besides, they had sofa chairs for visitors, information counters and dispensaries. The bazaar offered grocery items of high quality at low prices. Today, it’s hard for us to travel all the way to Wahdat Colony, which happens to be the nearest Ramazan bazaar.”

Meanwhile, vendors in Wahdat Colony express serious concern about the sluggish market. “No doubt, prices have skyrocketed but I manage to sell items at rates that are lower than what the market is offering, because I don’t have to cover rent or utility bills for this kiosk,” says a vendor. “This helps me keep prices lower than those in the open market. For instance, gram flour is being sold at Rs 300 per kg in retail shops everywhere, but here it is available for Rs 240.”

he government has been struggling to control the prices of vegetables and fruits which typically see a spike in sales during Ramazan. Shopkeepers argue that the official price lists are irrelevant for commodities such as fruits and vegetables, as their quality dictates different price tags due to their limited shelf life.

In the Wahdat Colony bazaar, onions are being sold at varying rates — between Rs 240 and 300 per kg. When quizzed about why the rate was Rs 300 when the official rate for the day had been fixed at Rs 240, a shopkeeper explained, “my onions are from the Rojhan area. The Rs 240 crop comes from Iran and is lacking in taste and aroma.”

The buyers say that regardless of the variety, prices tend to rise in Ramazan. The shopkeepers attribute this to the wholesale dealers limiting their supplies for higher profits.

Information Minister Azma Bukhari acknowledges the public’s concerns about the trends in prices. She insists that the government is committed to addressing those. In line with this commitment, Food Minister Bilal Yasin and Agriculture Minister Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani have initiated discussions with market leaders. Both the ministers, accompanied by divisional and district administration officials, recently visited the Badami Bagh vegetable and fruit market. They closely observed the onion auction process to understand the dynamics of the market activity. They also held a meeting with market committee representatives and arhtis (wholesale traders), urging them to enhance the supply of vegetables and fruits to bring the prices down.

Market committee officials and arhtis assured the provincial ministers the supply of onions, tomatoes and potatoes would be increased within a day, leading the prices to fall over the coming days.

Some economists, however, do not favour government-controlled bazaars and ministers’ interference in price control. Dr Qais Aslam, former chairman of the Economics Department at Government College University, Lahore, says that operating shops and bazaars does not fall in the purview of a capitalist government. “Their role should be limited to setting price ceilings or floors in extreme circumstances,” he says. “Interventions often distort the market, leading to surpluses and scarcities. Providing subsidies through ration cards can be a more effective way to help.”

The writer is a media veteran interested in politics, consumer rights and entrepreneurship