Zubair Qureshi
The Islamabad Capital Territory Administration (ICTA) is all set to establish fair price shops in various sectors of the federal capital, mostly markaz of each sector.
Initially these fair price shops will be set up for a period of one-month but later their duration can be extended to three months depending on the supply & demand situation in the city.
According to the sources in the ICT, it has been decided that food and vegetable market’s office-bearers will be responsible for supply of essential food items— potato, onion, tomato, ginger and garlic—while the MCI with cooperation of ICT will provide sugar and wheat flour through Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) for these fair price shops on controlled rates.
Meanwhile, it has also been decided that the weekly bazaar will also provide these essential food and vegetable items for three days in a week. Earlier, only the weekly bazaar in H-9 was providing essential items on controlled rates thrice a week while bazaars in G-6, G-10, Pakistan Town, Corang Town, I-9 and I-10 were operational only once a week.
According to the ICT these bazaars will now work three days a week and provide the essential food and vegetable items at controlled rates.
In the beginning we shall continue them for one month but foreseeing a shortage of flour, sugar, vegetables etc the duration may extend to three months, said an official of the ICT.
This year due to locust attack and floods vegetables and crops have suffered huge loss and the markets are facing acute shortage of everyday items, said the official adding the government needed to take urgent measures to avert any impending crisis.
