The local administration has failed to ensure quality of essential food items in Sasta bazaars as profiteers are fleecing customers by selling substandard commodities, revealed a survey conducted by Business Recorder here on Wednesday. Islamabad Capital Territory Administration (ICTA) has established four Sasta bazaars in the Federal capital to provide essential kitchen items to general public at controlled prices.
Although, ICTA has managed to control prices of daily commodities yet the quality of most of the kitchen items were comparatively lower than what is available in the open market, with some vendors openly selling their products at two different rates with the connivance of the ICT's committee members, survey revealed.
However, under the direction of Deputy Commissioner Islamabad, officials of district administration, including food inspector and assistant commissioner have been visiting the bazaars on regular basis and have focused on the price and not the quality of the edible items.
The ICTA action committee told Business Recorder that Rs 16000 fine has been imposed on vendors involved in selling substandard edible items at a high rate without displaying ICTA's approved price list. Assistant Commissioner Abdul Fattah told Business Recorder that Rs 1200 would be charged from a vendor as a fine in case of overcharging, adding that Rs 300 has been fixed as a minimum limit of fine while maximum limit is Rs 1000 for not displaying the price list.
The committee imposes a fine on 10 to 15 adulterators and profiteers on daily bases, he added. He said that complaint book was kept in control room and customers could lodge their complaints without any hesitation while the committee was bound to take action on the complaint of the customers.
Talking to Business Recorder regarding the quality of products in the bazaars, majority of the customers expressed dissatisfaction with the check and balance system of the committee. They however complained that committee members did not take any action against vendors involved in selling unhygienic products, including cold drinks, fruits and vegetables.
About the security arrangement, ICTA officials said that assistant commissioner (City) supervises the on duty staff and security at the bazaar while additional deputy commissioner (General) Islamabad is the over all in-charge. Price rate of edible items available in the Sasta bazaars on 12th of Ramadan was potato at Rs 34 per kg, onion Rs 28 per kg, tomato Rs 42 per kg, lemon Rs 115 per kg, chicken Rs 152 per kg, egg Rs 76 per dozen and flour bag Rs 480 per 20 kg.
Fruit prices were different according to quality like high quality apple was being sold at . 190 per kg while Rs 110 price was fixed for low quality apple. Mango was available at Rs 60-80 per kg, guava at Rs 70-80 per kg, grapes at Rs 200-240 per kg and peach at Rs 80-100 per kg depending on quality.