A number of 309 subsidized Ramazan bazaars established by the government of the Punjab across the province providing 28 essential commodities on subsidized rates, are being monitored seven days a week from 9 am to 6 pm by PITB's System Network Administrators (SNAs) posted in various DC offices while Command and Control Center (CCC) in S&GAD monitors pricing, quality, quantity and availability of the respective items through a mechanism of price control devised by the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB).
In a meeting chaired by Dr Umar Saif Chairman PITB here Monday it was informed that among the essential entities fruits, vegetable, pulses, sugar, flour and vegetable oil were major items being provided to the general public in these bazaars on much lower rates. Sugar is being given at the rate of Rs 46/- per kg in green pack with government logo, which is Rs 8/- less than the market, flour (Atta) in Green bags with logo Rs 500/- 20 kg as compare to Rs 720/- in the market while on vegetable oil; the Vegetable Ghee Mills Association has given subsidy on different brands. PITB teams should ensure through the use of technology to promptly monitor the prices and availability of the essential commodities in these bazaars, he added.
The Ramazan Bazaars are being operated across the Punjab since 2013 regularly. Operations of these Ramazan bazaars, enforcement by price control magistrates, and availability of 28 essential commodities in markets have facilitated the common man in the Punjab province. The prices are fixed on daily basis, keeping in view of the open market prices.