Tahira Irfa
Ramzan is the blessed month of self-purification which teaches us to be persistent, sacrifice for our Muslim brothers and sisters and spread love amongst them whole heartedly. It is a period of spiritual growth in which Muslims are expected to get a feeling of poverty and this may foster feelings of empathy. It teaches us to be kind and help others who are not so fortunate and as happiness is enhanced when it’s shared and Ramzan is that month when every Muslim wishes to help its brothers. This assistance ought to be done by both individuals and government inside their own particular limit. Government should provide its people with the best of facilities to make them spend this month without any fear and with great religious harmony and peace as the creature surrenders towards its Creator. As it is known, government provides subsidies for the welfare of the general public. Subsidization means that there exists a government that cares about its people. It is usually the money that is paid by a government to keep the price of a product or service low to share the burden of the unprivileged segment of the society. We are lucky here that Punjab government by sensing its responsibility has yet again fulfilled its promise of providing basic facilities to poor with the subsidy of nine billion rupees during the holy month of Ramzan. According to which, edible items are to be provided to the common men at economical rates as compared to market rates. Chief Minister of Punjab has tried to facilitate deserving public through this package and urged the public representatives as well as the administrators to play a proactive role for providing quality essential items to the people at reasonable prices. Ramzan bazars are bringing joy on the tables of our underprivileged brothers. The government of Punjab has also empowered price control committees to take strict action against those involved in overcharging. The efficiency can as well be observed by stating the example of Ramadan Monitoring Report. Complaint cells have also been set up in all Ramzan bazaars where consumers can get redressed their complaints immediately. The Punjab government is relying on CCTV cameras to monitor and control the quality of food and their prices at Ramzan Bazaars across the province.Also the Price Control Committees are performing their duties diligently and responsibly towards ensuring due quality and prices of the items of daily use across the province. Rice, sugar, ghee, chicken, fruits, vegetables, eggs and other edible and basic items have been made available for the people at concessionary rates in Ramzan bazaars. Another important feature is uploading of Ramzan Bazaar’s Electronic Rate Boards, installing CCTVs, LEDs, and Price Control Dashboards at districts level.The government has also setup a centralized control room at the civil secretariat to monitor the performance of Ramzan Bazars through CCTV cameras.Moreover, Green channel fair price stalls have been set up by Agriculture Department where high quality vegetables and fruits will be available at the rates fixed by the government.In order to avoid mismanagement on the roads, efficient parking facility has been provided in Ramzan and model bazaars and duties have been assigned to traffic police officers and officials for keeping the flow of traffic smooth. Certainly this has proved very helpful in combating inflation. These Ramzan bazaars have enabled the poor segment of the society to equally cherish the blessed month of Ramzan.While the government has done well to provide relief to the common man through provision of eatables on subsidized rates across the province and direct supervision of the Chief Minister is certainly helpful in regulating the prices, what is important is that our shopkeepers and traders also feel the moral responsibility. It is alright to earn profit on your business but there is a huge difference between rightful earning and profiteering. The month of fasting is not just about going thirsty and hungry; it is also about imbibing the values of compassion and sacrifice and sharing the miseries of less privileged sections of society. Undoubtedly Ramzan is much more than throwing gift hampers on the public. It’s rather an opportunity to come forward and help those who are not fortunate enough and have fewer resources. Unless all of us play our role in creating an egalitarian society, mere governmental enforcement can only achieve limited results.Let’s help each other rise and spread nothing but Love and Care.
