No Sunday bazaar set up over PSL final

LAHORE

No weekly makeshift market was established on account of security arrangements for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) second edition final in Lahore as the whole district and provincial management was engaged in the arrangements. 

 However, the decision of closure of the makeshift markets was not announced by the district management earlier. The porters of the Sunday bazaars said that they came to Shadman from different areas with the hope to get daily wages but the bazaar was closed due to PSL final security reasons. “We have nothing to do with sports. What we know that it’s a though Sunday for us and our families who expect some earning after working here in the Shadman weekly makeshift market of the city”, said Mushtaq, an upset  potter. “We have specific people who hire our services here and pay double to the minimum service charges – thus not getting any business on a Sunday means a lot to us “, he said. Ehsan, another porter, said that he came from Kana Kacha to Shadman for labour but the bazaar was not established,” he said. “I earn around 500 to 800 and on some good Sunday, its over 1,000 which is not possible in routine day work in vegetable and fruits markets or any other labour work." Besides, a number of good people also give some amount or sometime a flour bag in charity which is additional benefit of working on Sunday at Shadman bazaar. "we have nothing to do with any final," he said in a sad tone. 

Meanwhile, overcharging across the city was witnessed in the open markets on perishable items. The government did not check overcharging on perishable items, vegetables and fruits in the routine days expect in the holy month of Ramazan so the shopkeepers always overcharge the public. The shopkeepers are not worried about the government action that even they display the price list at the shops but not sell anything according the official price list. If sometime the district government starts some eye wash activities against artificial price hike or overcharging, it cracks down on the roadside donkey cart fruits vendors, whereas, no action is taken against the permanent fruits and vegetables shops established in the residential areas and main bazaars. 

All fruits and vegetables are sold at at 20 percent to 100 percent higher rates than the official rates. The issuance of the price list seems to be a futile activity on part of the government which should be abandoned when vendors are free to charge the customers at will.