Latest news with #SahulatBazaars
Express Tribune
27-06-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Sahulat bazaars to offer relief to citizens
Rawalpindi Commissioner Aamir Khattak has announced the establishment of new Sasta Sahulat Bazaars across all six districts and 24 tehsils of Rawalpindi Division. Orders have been issued to identify and formally allocate 3 to 5 kanals of government land in each location for this purpose. The commissioner made the announcement while chairing a special meeting regarding the setup of Sahulat Bazaars. Deputy commissioners from all six districts of the division participated, with DCs from Jhelum, Murree, Attock, and Chakwal joining via video link. Commissioner Khattak stated that the Sahulat Bazaars are a flagship project aimed at providing essential food items, vegetables and fruits at prices lower than those in the open market. "These markets will serve as a practical relief initiative for the public, helping to stabilise prices and curb hoarding," he added. Funds have already been allocated for the Punjab Sahulat Bazaar Authority under the Annual Development Programme 2025, ensuring the availability of necessary financial resources for the timely completion of the project. The commissioner emphasised that the markets must be fully operational before Ramazan 2026.
Express Tribune
19-06-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Sahulat Bazaars to offer year-round relief
The Punjab government has begun preparations for establishing 100 Sahulat Bazaars across the province, aiming to curb inflation and ensure consistent access to essential goods at notified prices. Announced as a Special Chief Minister's Initiative under the Fiscal Year 202526 Budget, the project carries an allocation of Rs10 billion. Unlike previous short-term Ramazan markets, the Sahulat Bazaars will be permanent, purpose-built marketplaces established in every tehsil. These facilities will provide essential food and household items at government-notified prices in regulated environments designed to ensure the dignity and convenience for all consumers. Construction is under way at 13 sites, including Jaranwala, Pattoki, Sharaqpur, Muzaffargarh, Okara, Khanewal, Narowal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Chunian, Wazirabad, Bhalwal, Noshehra Virkan, Jalalpur and Burewala. The government has already disbursed Rs3.4 billion for the initial projects, which are expected to become operational by August. The initiative also includes mobile markets, currently active at 15 locations across Lahore, aimed at improving access in densely populated areas while curbing encroachment and price gouging. Additional measures include free home delivery services, Sahulat Stalls offering prices below official rates, solar-powered bazaars, and upgrades to 36 existing facilities. Punjab Sahulat Bazaars Authority (PSBA) chief Naveed Rafaqat Ahmad affirmed that the government is treating the project with "unmatched urgency". The target is to have all 100 bazaars operational before Ramazan next year. To accelerate the rollout, Secretary of Planning, Coordination and Monitoring Dr Ehsan Bhutta convened a meeting to enforce tight deadlines for concept paper submissions and early funding releases. Divisional commissioners across Punjab have been instructed to fast-track land identification and resolve implementation hurdles. The PSBA, an autonomous authority, is overseeing the execution of the initiative. Officials say the programme represents a shift toward institutionalised price relief. Meanwhile, the Punjab Food Authority (PFA) launched legal action against a poultry supplier after intercepting a vehicle carrying dead chickens intended for sale in Lahore, seizing over 1,800 kilogrammes of diseased and unfit meat, officials said on Wednesday. The operation by a PFA enforcement team took place in the Chak Dhera area on the outskirts of the city. A loader rickshaw transporting dead poultry was stopped and an FIR was registered against the supplier. As part of a crackdown on unsafe practices, a safety task force also inspected more than 217,000kg of meat from 53 suppliers and warehouses in Tollinton Market. Meat prepared from birds suffering from various diseases was found and discarded on the spot. "Preparing meat from dead or sick birds is a serious crime," said the PFA director general, adding that investigations are under way to identify those involved in the supply chain of tainted poultry. He said the PFA is committed to aligning the meat processing and transportation with international standards. He said the authority is employing all available resources to dismantle what he termed an adulteration mafia operating in Punjab. He urged the people to purchase poultry that is slaughtered in their presence to ensure health safety and to report violations on the PFA helpline.
Express Tribune
06-04-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Maryam wants Sahulat Bazaars run on solar energy
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has directed the authorities concerned to operate the Sahulat Bazaars on solar energy. According to an official statement, she called for early completion of preparations to open 13 new Sahulat Bazaars in the province by August 13. The CM directed the authorities to set up the bazaars in Nowshehra Virkan, Burewala, Kabirwala, Sangla and Jalalpur, besides establishing additional markets in Bahawalpur, Attock and Murree. The chief minister directed the district administrations to allocate land for the convenience markets. She said, "Shifting to solar energy will reduce the electricity cost in the convenience markets by 70 per cent." She highlighted, "Benefit of reduction in electricity cost will be delivered to the people." A pilot project of switching a Sahulat Bazaar in the Township area in Lahore to solar energy has been completed. She directed the relevant authorities to release more than Rs690 million for switching Sahulat Bazaars in the province to solar energy. The chief minister directed the officials concerned to remove obstacles in the establishment of Sahulat Bazaars in Jhelum, Muzaffargarh and Narowal. She called for completing the process of identifying land for the bazaars in Rahim Yar Khan, Bahawalnagar, Attock and Murree as soon as possible. She said, "The aim of establishing Sahulat Bazaars is to provide food items to the members of down-trodden segments of society at low prices. Under the vision of Quaid Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, inflation is being eliminated."
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Express Tribune
05-04-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
CM Punjab approves 13 new sahulat bazaars across province
Listen to article Chief Minister of Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif has approved the establishment of 13 new Sahulat Bazaars across the province to provide affordable goods to the public. The new markets, aimed at offering essential food items at reduced prices, will be set up in areas including Nowshera Warkan, Burewala, Kabirwala, Sangla Hill, and Jalalpur. Additional markets will also be established in Bahawalpur, Attock, and Murree. The projects are slated for completion by August, with district administrations instructed to allocate land for the bazaars. These markets will also be powered by solar energy, which is expected to reduce electricity costs by up to 70%, with the savings passed on to the public in the form of lower prices. An approval of over Rs690 million has been granted for the solar energy conversion of the bazaars. The initiative is in line with the vision of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to eliminate inflation and provide low-income and middle-class families with access to affordable food.
Express Tribune
28-03-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
A model of public service
As the holy month of Ramazan, filled with blessings and mercy, nears its conclusion, the Punjab government remains steadfast in its mission to provide maximum relief to citizens. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the provincial administration has worked tirelessly to ensure quality facilities and affordable essentials for the public during this sacred month. Historically, Ramazan in Punjablike elsewherehas been marked by steep price hikes and shortages of essential items. However, this year, the chief minister and her team have rewritten that narrative. Across neighbourhoods and markets, citizens are acknowledging, many for the first time, that the prices of groceries, fruits, and vegetables have remained stable, with ample supplies available at reasonable rates. Maryam Nawaz Sharif, her cabinet, and district administrations across Punjab have personally monitored Ramazan bazaars and general markets to inspect the quality and pricing of goods. When the province's chief executive actively engages on the ground to deliver relief to the common citizen, the impact is tangible. People are not only experiencing this relief firsthand but are also openly expressing gratitude for a government that prioritizes action over hollow promises. For Maryam Nawaz, governance is not about grand slogans or empty philosophiesit is about grassroots work and delivering real benefits to the people. This year, the Punjab government introduced two landmark programmes: the Ramazan Nigahban Package and the Ramazan Sahulat Bazaars. Unlike previous years, when only a handful of subsidised items were available in Ramazan bazaarsoften leading to long queues for flour and sugarthis year's Sahulat Bazaars ensured a seamless experience. A total of 80 Ramazan Sahulat Bazaars were established across Punjab, offering not only flour and sugar but also a wide range of essentials in abundant quantities. Over 12 million citizens have benefited from these bazaars, with no shortages or chaotic lines reported. Building on last year's success of doorstep ration delivery, the Punjab government this year distributed Rs10,000 per family to three million deserving households under the Nigahban Package. The transparent disbursement of Rs30 billion in aidwithout political favouritism or bureaucratic delaysstands as a testament to the administration's efficiency. Eligible families registered through a merit-based system, with no interference from political representatives. This dignified approach ensured that aid reached those who truly needed it. While Punjab's initiatives set a benchmark, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government's Ramazan relief efforts tell a different story. The K-P cabinet approved a Rs10 billion package only midway through Ramazan, with funds allegedly distributed among Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf members and loyalists. Reports suggest that ordinary citizens in K-P received no substantial relief, exposing the disparity between claims of "change" and actual governance. Under Maryam Nawaz Sharif's leadership, Punjab has launched over 80 public welfare projects without a single allegation of corruptiona rarity in Pakistan's political landscape. This reflects a governance model rooted in integrity, public service, and accountability. When leaders prioritise people's welfare, manage public funds transparently, and uphold merit, the results speak for themselves. Maryam Nawaz Sharif has redefined public service in Punjab, setting a new standard for proactive and compassionate governance. The overwhelming public appreciation for the Ramazan initiatives underscores their success. As the province looks ahead, citizens are optimistic that this momentum of service and relief will continue over the next four years. For now, Ramazan 2025 in Punjab will be remembered not just as a month of spiritual reflection but as a milestone in people-centred governance. In the words of a citizen, "When intentions are pure and leadership is committed, even the toughest challenges turn into opportunities for service."
