Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has set a July deadline for the completion of 27 new Sahulat Bazaars across the province aimed at providing essential commodities to citizens at subsidised rates.
In addition, 13 “Sahulat on the Go” mobile bazaars will be established in various districts to further expand access to affordable goods. Under the initiative, 1,300 new businesses will be launched in the 27 bazaars, while more than 600 direct employment opportunities will be created.
Chairing a meeting here on Monday, the CM was briefed that over 90 million citizens annually are expected to benefit from the project. Fruits, vegetables, and other essential items will be available at prices 40 per cent lower than the open market and 18 per cent lower than DC rates, under the Chief Minister’s vision for affordable access to daily-use commodities.
The initiative is projected to benefit more than 850,000 households, generating annual savings exceeding Rs5.3 billion. It will also strengthen the local supply chain and boost business activity. Vendor sales are expected to increase by 24 per cent, while profits may rise by 23 per cent. Shopkeepers in Sahulat Bazaars will collectively save around Rs530 million annually as electricity, cleanliness, and security services will be provided free of cost.
Each Sahulat Bazaar will be monitored through CCTV cameras connected to a central control system to ensure transparency and security. A free home delivery service within a five-kilometre radius will also be introduced, ensuring delivery within 40 minutes to save time and fuel costs.
The bazaars will be established across multiple districts and tehsils, including Bhakkar, Mianwali, Pakpattan, Rajanpur, Muzaffargarh, Mandi Bahauddin, Rawalpindi, Attock, and Jhelum, as well as Khanewal, Faisalabad, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Okara, Sialkot, Gujrat, and Sargodha. The “Sahulat on the Go” initiative will cover tehsils in Lahore, Jhelum, Bhakkar, Rawalpindi, Kasur, and Faisalabad.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif said the government’s commitment to providing affordable and quality essential items would be fulfilled at all costs, adding that reduced prices of fruits and vegetables would offer tangible relief to the public. She further stated that the bazaars would ensure a clean, organised, and family-friendly environment with facilities including parking, seating arrangements, clean drinking water, mosques, and dedicated counters for senior citizens.
Separately, Maryam Nawaz paid rich tribute to firefighters, acknowledging their unwavering dedication, professional commitment, and sacrifices in safeguarding lives and properties.
In her special message on the occasion of International Firefighters’ Day, the CM said that firefighters routinely risk their own lives to protect citizens, reflecting exceptional courage, discipline, and a profound sense of responsibility. She stressed that raising public awareness about the critical role of firefighters is a pressing need of the hour, given the increasing frequency of urban emergencies.
She highlighted the exemplary performance of Rescue 1122 personnel, noting that timely and effective response by firefighters has averted major losses in several incidents across Punjab. Referring to recent emergencies, she said that valuable lives were saved during the fire incident at Big City Tower near Liberty Chowk. In another major incident, a hotel fire in Gulberg, Rescue 1122 firefighters successfully rescued more than 180 individuals, demonstrating outstanding operational efficiency and bravery.
The CM said that the Punjab government is ensuring the deployment of modern firefighting technology across the province. She said that firefighters are being provided with advanced safety equipment, snorkels, and modern firefighting vehicles to enhance their operational capacity and safety standards.
She added that fire hydrants are being installed in high-rise buildings and commercial markets, while regular inspections of fire safety equipment in residential and public buildings are also being strictly ensured. These measures, she said, are aimed at strengthening emergency preparedness and ensuring swift response in case of fire incidents across Punjab.