The number of subsidised Ramazan bazaars, also known as Sahulat Bazaars, has been sharply reduced this year, officials confirmed on Friday, triggering concerns over access to affordable essential commodities ahead of the holy month.
The district administration scaled back plans drastically, cutting the planned total from 26 bazaars to only seven across the Rawalpindi Division, a region with an estimated population of 18.5 million. In Rawalpindi city itself, the count fell from 11 subsidised markets to just two.
Aid Requests Rejected Amid Scaling Back
The reduction comes alongside a tightening of financial aid approvals under the region’s Ramazan Nigehban Package. Authorities have approved assistance for just 117,185 individuals, despite hundreds of thousands of applications submitted by families seeking relief.
Local sources said many applicants were turned away due to budget limitations and administrative constraints, leaving large numbers without expected support as food prices continue to climb.
Administration Focus on Inflation Control
A meeting chaired by the Rawalpindi Division Commissioner, Aamir Khattak, directed the price control task force to prioritise inflation control until Eid, suspending other routine activities to focus on the issue.
Officials said teams have begun cracking down on profiteering, arresting traders suspected of overcharging and sealing shops where price violations were found. The district’s enforcement units are expected to maintain pressure on markets to prevent unjustified price hikes during Ramadan.
Impact on Households and Consumers
The scaling back of subsidised markets is likely to squeeze lower- and middle-income families at a time when food inflation has surged, particularly for Ramazan staples.
Across several cities, residents have reported sharp price increases for flour, pulses, sugar, dates, and vegetables, forcing many households to adjust budgets and cut back on staple purchases. Traders in urban centres noted that sustained demand ahead of Ramadan has magnified open-market price pressures.
Critics of the decision warn that with fewer subsidised outlets, traditionally a way to provide essential food items at controlled rates, many families will struggle to afford sehri and iftar necessities. Unlike past years when more extensive bazaars were set up to ease seasonal burdens, the scaled-down version may offer limited relief amid a broader cost-of-living squeeze.
Government and Community Response
Government officials defending the cuts have cited financial and logistical challenges, as well as a strategic shift toward tightening enforcement against hoarders and profiteers.
Retail associations and community groups have called for expanded relief measures, including increased oversight in private markets and direct support for low-income households struggling with essential purchases.
Some local representatives have also urged authorities to reinstate more subsidised market sites or introduce mobile subsidy units that can reach underserved neighbourhoods during the holy month.
