With advent of the month of Ramazan, the people, residing in Multan, have thronged to seven sasta bazaars for purchasing items of daily use where rates of food items were comparatively lower than rates of market and weekly bazaars. According to press release issued by Multan administration, the peoples preferred going to sasta bazaars on the Ist of Ramazan and bought the food items for Iftaar and Sehar from these bazaars.
Ten Sasta Bazaars have been set up in Multan district under the supervision of local administration and Market Committee also witnessed a rush of customers on the first of Ramazan. People visiting Kalima Chowk Sasta Bazaar, have by and large expressed their satisfaction about the quality and rate of food items in the bazaar. However they bitterly criticised the quality of flour being supplied. Sources said that substandard flour was supplied by the Governor Punjab's flour Mills through Utility Stores Corporation.
They demanded a strict action against the supplier of substandard, unhygienic atta and said that these bazaars were a source of relief for the common man each year but some unscrupulous elements made these bazaars a source of income. They also appreciated the arrangements made by the administration for providing food items at the cheaper rates.
A comparison of rates of food items in Multan on the 2nd of Ramadan was as follow, potato, market rate per kg Rs 40, at sasta bazaar Rs 34, at weekly bazaar Rs 35, onion market rate per kg Rs 26, at sasta bazaar Rs 21,weekly bazaar Rs 24, tomato market rate per kg, Rs 60, sasta bazaar Rs 50, weekly bazaar Rs 60 to70, lemon market rate per kg Rs 140, sasta bazaar Rs 125, weekly bazaar Rs 135-125, baingan market rate per kg Rs 24, sasta bazaar Rs 19, weekly bazaar Rs 26-22, Apple gaja, market rate per kg 130, sasta bazaar Rs 115, weekly bazaar Rs 130-120, banana per dozen market rate Rs 67, sasta bazaar Rs 58, weekly bazaar Rs 70-60, mango chuansa market rate Rs 80, sasta bazaar Rs 68, weekly bazaar Rs 75- 70, pear market rate Rs 55, sasta bazaar Rs 48, weekly bazaar Rs 50, flour bag 20-kg market rate Rs 440, sasta bazaar Rs 430 but substandard, weekly bazaar Rs 430.
With the advent of holy month of Ramazan, fruit vendors have increased prices of almost all fruits especially all varieties of dates, which are commonly used during 'Iftar' by the faithful. According to a survey of various markets here on Tuesday, there has been a sharp increase in prices of mangoes, peaches, apples, bananas and dates.
A shopkeeper pointed out that as the new crop of dates was ready in Sindh, Balochistan and some parts of Punjab, the concerned authorities should streamline its supply to the markets in a bid to stabilise its prices. Mangoes, which were available at Rs 70 per kg before the advent of Ramazan, are now being sold at Rs 90 to Rs 100 per kg. The average rate of the good quality peaches has been increased from Rs 60 to 70 per kg to Rs 80 to 140 by shopkeepers and vendors.
Similarly, apples are being sold at Rs 120 to Rs 140 per kg despite the new crop has started coming into market. The people have asked the concerned authorities to keep a vigil on demand and supply of these fruits for keeping them within the reach of common consumers.