Loralai’s Sasta Bazar Paralyzed as Subsidy Freeze Hits Residents Hard Amid Ramadan Price Surge

Independent report
Loralai, Feb 22: The ‘Sasta Bazar’ in Loralai has largely come to a standstill following the provincial government’s suspension of subsidies, leaving citizens with limited access to affordable essentials during Ramadan. While a few shopkeepers have independently set up small stalls, residents say the available facilities fall far short of the city’s needs.
In the few operational stalls, prices remain steep: beef with bone is being sold at PKR 1,000 per kilogram, without bone at PKR 1,100, and mutton at PKR 1,700 per kilogram. Flour is priced at PKR 150 per bag. Locals report that, amid rising inflation, purchasing meat has become increasingly unaffordable.
Shoppers also noted the absence of stalls for gas, vegetables, and fruits, with fresh produce prices spiking sharply in the run-up to Ramadan. Shopkeepers explained that without provincial subsidies, participation in the Sasta Bazar is financially unviable.
Citizens have called on the provincial government to urgently restore subsidies and reactivate the Sasta Bazar, emphasizing that doing so is essential to provide tangible relief to low-income families and ensure access to affordable essentials during the holy month.