Rawalpindi District Administration Reduces Ramazan Bazaars to Three Amid Rising Food Prices
By Bilal Haider :
The Rawalpindi district administration has decided to establish only three Ramazan cart bazaars this year, replacing the previous system of 16 subsidized markets across the city. The bazaars will be located near Allama Iqbal Park, Haidri Chowk, and Chohar Chowk.
Following directives from Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the administration, under Deputy Commissioner Dr Hassan Waqar Cheema, has initiated measures to provide citizens with essential food items at affordable, regulated prices during the holy month. One bazaar at Chohar Chowk will operate under the Assistant Commissioner (Cantonment), while the other two at Iqbal Park and Haidri Chowk will be managed by Assistant Commissioner (City) Iman Zafar.
Essential commodities such as flour, sugar, pulses, vegetables, fruits, and other staples will be sold at controlled rates. Officials have been instructed to maintain cleanliness, prominently display price lists, and ensure quality. Price control magistrates will monitor markets to prevent hoarding, profiteering, or overcharging.
The move aims to facilitate access to affordable daily-use items and curb inflation, which has surged ahead of Ramazan. In the open market, prices for basic goods are high: gram flour at Rs400/kg, mutton at Rs2,600/kg, chicken at Rs600/kg, milk at Rs230/litre, and various fruits and vegetables showing sharp increases.
Security measures have also been tightened. The Punjab Home Department has banned public eating and drinking during the day and restricted ready-to-eat food sales at eateries, canteens, and pushcarts. Additional personnel will be deployed at mosques, imambargahs, and Eidgahs, with enhanced patrols, CCTV surveillance, and traffic management to ensure the peaceful observance of Ramazan. Special measures will be taken during Sehri, Iftar, Taraweeh, Fridays, and key nights such as Shab-e-Qadr.
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