By Our correspondent
There is hardly any improvement in the distribution mechanism of ‘atta’ and ‘sugar’ at ‘Ramazan Sasta Bazaars’ and truck sale points in the city as frequent scuffles and long queues have become a norm at these places.
Poor people have to line up for hours in the hot and humid weather to get these two essential kitchen items despite the fact that Punjab Chief Minister Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif had warned the local government officials against long queues.
Commissioner Captain (r) Zahid Saeed Thursday visited the ‘Ramazan Sasta Bazaar’ at Shamsabad and directed all staff members and price magistrates to provide ‘atta’ and sugar to people in an easy way. He told ‘The News’ that they were trying to improve the situation at ‘Ramazan Sasta Bazaars’ and truck sale points, but there was great rush of buyers at all these points.
Special Price Magistrate Saeed Ahmed Toor said that the local administration was providing ‘atta’ and sugar through union councils to put an end to long queues. People could get ‘atta’ and sugar from ‘Ramazan Sasta Bazaars’ set up in their respective union councils, he said.
Talking to ‘The News,’ buyers complained about non-availability of items of daily use at every sale point. Scuffles break out frequently at every sale point, they said.
The situation at the Gulzar-e-Quaid and Dhoke Ratta sale points was worst as customers and administrative staff were seen quarrelling with each other. Several customers, including women, fell unconscious. There were no policewomen at some sale points therefore policemens were trying to handle women. None of the MPAs was seen at these sale points.
People complained to ‘The News’ that ‘atta’ trucks were not available at designated points. “We have to stand in long queues to get subsidised ‘atta’ and sugar,” they added.
Muhammad Ashraf, a customer at Dhoke Ratta sale point, told ‘The News’ that he could not get ‘atta’ and sugar despite waiting at the sale point since early morning. The local administration could not stop hoarders who were buying kitchen items in bulk, he said.
Sugran Bibi, a buyer, said that she remained standing in the long queue since morning but there was no stock when her turn came. “People were pushing and pulling. How a woman could get ‘atta’ and sugar in this situation,” she said.