At the Ramadan relief bazaars set up throughout the province, the Punjab government is selling five kilograms of sugar per ID card for a month at a price of Rs130 per kilogram.
However, the Punjab government’s Ramadan aid program has drawn criticism for only distributing five kilograms of sugar per ID card, a decision that locals claim is insufficient for larger families throughout the holy month.
The system’s goal is to stop duplicate transactions by tracking purchases using ID card registrations. Many contend, however, that the five-kilogram restriction is insufficient to cover the necessities of a typical household during the fasting month of Ramadan.
The Kiryana Merchant Association’s president, Arif Gujjar, criticized the increased cost of sugar, pointing out that it costs Rs170 per kilogram on the free market. He cautioned that cartel-like actions by sugar mills and sellers could cause prices to increase even more.
In support of the government’s decision, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari said that 80 Ramadan bazaars were established around the province, including 10 in Lahore, to guarantee that sugar is supplied at the discounted price of Rs130 per kilogram. Relief during the holy month was the aim, she said.
Model bazaars sell sugar for Rs140 per kilogram, with no quantity restrictions, for those who require more.
