Islampura Ramazan Bazaar closed down over ‘mismanagement’

LAHORE: Islampura Ramazan Bazaar closed down just after two days of working as differences occurred between the management and elected chairman and vice-chairman of the union council concerned on management control of the bazaar.

However, the district administration claimed that the bazaar was closed after the complaints were received from the locals besides limited space in the area due to which few stalls were established there. The limited stalls were insufficient to meet the requirements of the localities so the bazaar was closed, said a top official of the town management. He said that efforts were made to establish the bazaar in Chishtian Ground and another locality in the surrounding of the same area. However, permission was not granted by the local authorities concerned for establishing the bazaar there. Additionally, establishment of the bazaar was also considered on the road but it was not possible to keep that road closed for whole month. Thus the bazaar was closed down from the locality.

However, the residents of the locality were angry on the closing of the bazaar without any intimation and reason. They said all arrangements were made and bazaar remained operational for two days. The parking area, walkthrough gates and all other required arrangements were made properly. The locals were happy that they will get quality perishable items at official controlled rates in holy month of Ramazan. But sudden closing down of bazaar shattered their happiness. They said it also exposed the poor decision making of the district government, besides lack of coordination among the elected chairman and vice-chairman of union council and district government authorities. They demanded the restoration of the bazaar immediately.

On the other hand, the district government has somehow able to manage the Ramazan Bazaars after four days. However, the management is only limited to the agricultural market committee, sugar, flour and other government managed stalls while the failure of the government continued to manage the other stalls allocated to the open market vendors. The big companies items were available at lower than the open market rates. However, the rates and quality of the perishable items, including vegetables and fruits were still unchecked. The vendors are smart and habitual so they easily keep on cheating the public as well as administration by selling lower quality items at higher rates. Lemon is still not available other than agricultural marketing department stall there while in open markets, it was sold at Rs360 to 400 per kg.

Three different price lists were issued this Sunday for the fruits and vegetables which created anomalies for the buyers while violation of all lists was observed in different localities. The market committee issued one list for Sunday Bazaars, other for Ramazan Bazaars and third for open markets with different rates. However, Ramazan Bazaars turned into Ramazan-cum-Sunday Bazaars so the confusion was created which list would be implemented there. In some Ramazan Bazaars, weekly Sunday Bazaars list was enforced while in others Ramazan Bazaars price list used by the market committee Lahore officials. They said there was difference of Rs1 to 6 in different items in the two lists but they were managing by issuing minimum price in makeshift markets. The comparison of the vegetables and fruits from the last week shows this week price of potato was increased by Rs6 per kg fixed at Rs24 to 26 per kg for soft skin and potato hard skin at Rs15 to 19 per kg and sugar-free at Rs19 to 21 per kg, while market committee issued Rs26 per kg for hard skin while soft skin potato was not available.

The price of onion was reduced by Re one per kg, fixed at Rs20 to 22 per kg, mixed were sold at Rs22 per kg. The price of tomato was reduced by Rs4 per kg, fixed at Rs15 to 16 per kg. Garlic China was reduced by Rs3 per kg, fixed at Rs102 to 105 per kg, and garlic local at Rs58 to 60 per kg, sold at Rs100 per kg. Ginger Chinese was declined by Rs10 per kg, fixed at Rs145 to 150 per kg, and Thai by Rs9 per kg, fixed at Rs117 to 120 per kg, and it was sold at Rs160 to 200 per kg.

The price of brinjal was increased by Re one per kg fixed at Rs26 to 28 per kg, sold at Rs30 per kg. Cucumber local was stable at Rs26 to 28 per kg, and farm fixed at Rs21 to 22 per kg, both sold at Rs30 per kg. Bitter gourd was reduced by Rs19 per kg, fixed at Rs15 to 16 per kg. Spinach was gained by Rs8 per kg, fixed at Rs19 to 20 per kg, not available in markets. Lemon local gained by Rs27 per kg fixed at Rs195 to 202 per kg, not sold there.

Zucchini local was reduced by Rs7 per kg, fixed at Rs43 to 45 per kg, farm gained by Rs5 per kg, fixed at Rs17 to 18 per kg, zucchini long fixed at Rs20 per kg but both the varieties were not available on account of wrong pricing issue. Pumpkin was reduced by Rs7 per kg, fixed at Rs12 to 13 per kg. Green chili was stable at Rs53 to 55 per kg, sold at Rs60 to 80 per kg. Capsicum rate was increased by Rs5 per kg, fixed at Rs23 to 25 per kg.

Cauliflower was fixed at Rs43 to 45 per kg, and cabbage was gained by Rs3 per kg, fixed at Rs17 to 18 per kg, not sold due to pricing issue. Pea was increased by Rs10 per kg, fixed at Rs83 to 85 per kg, sold at Rs100 per kg.

Ladyfinger rate was reduced by Rs14 per kg, fixed at Rs49 to 51 per kg, sold at Rs50 per kg. Sweet pumpkin was fixed at Rs10 per kg, sold at Rs30 per kg. Luffa was gained by Rs5 per kg, fixed at Rs28 to 30 kg. Arum was fixed at Rs38 to 40 per kg not sold. Coriander was fixed at Rs15 per kg, sold at Rs160 per kg.

Different varieties of apples were fixed at Rs88 to 166 per kg, rotten were sold at Rs80 to 160 per kg while Chinese apple price was fixed at Rs301 to 312 per kg. The price of different variety of dates was fixed at Rs145 to 172 per kg, sold at Rs160 to 300 per kg.

Banana special quality was fixed at Rs147 to 152 per dozen, A-quality was gained by Rs5 per dozen, fixed at Rs102 to 105 per dozen, sold at Rs150 per dozen, and B-quality at Rs53 to 55 per dozen, sold at Rs100 per dozen. Papaya was fixed at Rs90 per kg, sold at Rs120 per kg. Melon special was fixed at Rs48 to 50 per kg, melon round was fixed at Rs28 to 30 per kg, sold at Rs40 to 50 per kg.

Watermelon was fixed at Rs18 per kg, sold at Rs20 to 25 per kg. Phalsa was fixed at Rs160 per kg. Peach A-category was fixed at Rs141 to 146 per kg, B-category at Rs83 to 85 per kg and mixed sold at Rs140 per kg. Apricot yellow was fixed at Rs107 to 110 per kg and white at Rs155 to 160 per kg. The rate of different varieties of mango was fixed at Rs63 to 150 per kg, sold at Rs120 to 200 per kg.