By Qasim Ali
LAHORE: Punjab’s first-of-its-kind ‘Sahulat On-the-Go Bazaar’, launched on the directions of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, has emerged as a major public attraction in Lahore by providing essential commodities at DC-notified rates while ensuring dignified livelihoods for street vendors.
More than 400 stalls have been allotted to vendors through an open balloting process, offering fruits, vegetables, chicken and grocery items along with facilities including security, sanitation, clean washrooms and a drive-through shopping option.In the first phase, the bazaars have become operational at multiple locations including Gulshan Ravi, Shadman, Madar-e-Millat Road, Madina Market, Township, Sundar Road, Kotha Pind, Faisal Town, Kharak Nala, Awan Town, Valencia and Shahdara, officials said, adding that five more On-the-Go Bazaars would be made functional in Lahore by February, while projects in Barki, Sadar, Nishtar Town, Raiwind Phase-II, Moon Market and Ferozewala are nearing completion.Vendors welcomed the initiative, saying they had moved from operating roadside pushcarts to running proper shops under a regulated and respectable system, and thanked the chief minister for providing a sustainable alternative instead of eviction.Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif said the project reflects Nawaz Sharif’s vision of a clean and beautifulLahore. The CM also appreciated the efforts of the Punjab Sahulat Bazaar Authority, noting that the initiative would help reduce the need for Ramazan-specific subsidies by ensuring the year-round availability of affordable essential commodities.
