Shoppers at the government-run Township Model Bazaar are now greeted by the gentle sounds of piano music as they go stall to stall. These sounds come from a classroom dedicated for free music classes for children. The Township Model Bazaar has started free music classes for children thrice a week. “The initiative was taken three months ago,” said Naveed Rafaqat Ahmad, chief executive officer of Model Bazaars. “It’s natural that children want to visit markets along with their parents. So, we have decided to launch free music classes for accompanying children to make their visits more fruitful and full of learning.” But classes are not for walk-in children. They can avail themselves of the free learning opportunity after free registration. Naveed Rafaqat Ahmad said that initially, classes are being conducted Friday to Sunday – the usual three days of the weekend when most families go shopping. In the future, the number of days may be increased. Shafiq Aziz, music class instructor, says that the experience is fabulous. “So far, 16 children have enrolled, and things are going smoothly,” he said. “Shoppers pass by, and occasionally, they stay for a while to see children’s struggle with keys, tones, etc. There is hardly any distraction for us. The bazaar is quite big and peaceful.” Shafiq Aziz is a music teacher at the city’s premier school. He says that one piano is provided by the class, but children are encouraged to buy and bring their own pianos to familiarise their fingers with their own keyboard. Naveed Rafaqat Ahmad says that they have taken several measures to make children’s visits to the grocery market a fun and learning experience. “During a shopping trip, children learn and reinforce the concepts of money, prices, and operations of addition and subtraction. At Model Bazaars, there are also dedicated play areas for children.” Moreover, the Punjab Model Bazaars Management Company, which operates the Model Bazaars, has introduced plastic-free kids’ play rides and blocks. This pioneering effort includes the addition of a park equipped with playground equipment made from 100% recycled plastic waste, setting a new standard for eco-friendly public spaces. This initiative was undertaken in collaboration with the Environment Protection Agency (EPA), recognising the critical role of Model Bazaars in public welfare and their extensive customer footfall as a platform for public awareness.