Lahore’s Sahulat On-The-Go Bazaars have moved from blueprint to reality. Lahore has witnessed the successful launch of Punjab’s first-ever and unique “Sahulat On-the-Go Bazaar”, an initiative of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif, aimed at providing affordable, high-quality goods to citizens while ensuring dignified and sustainable livelihoods for street vendors.
Under the special directives of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, more than 400 stalls have been allotted to vendors through a transparent open balloting process. The pilot project has quickly scaled from 10 initial locations to a province-wide network, backed by Rs 10 billion in government funding and a statutory framework that ensures long-term sustainability.
What Are Sahulat On-The-Go Bazaars?
The Sahulat On-The-Go Bazaars are roadside mobile markets that offer essential food items at government-controlled prices. In the Sahulat-on-the-Go bazaar, food items and essential edibles will be available at uniform cottage-top shops surrounding the roads. Special arrangements will be made for a clean environment and security in the ‘Sahulat-on-the-Go bazaars’ project.
Unlike temporary Ramazan bazaars, these markets operate year-round. Government land will be used on the sides of the road for establishing ‘Sahulat-on-the-Go bazaars’ project. The ‘Sahulat-on-the-Go Bazaars’ project is expected to enhance accessibility to affordable goods, particularly for daily wage earners and lower-income households, while promoting a structured and organized market system in Punjab.
Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif has given in-principle approval to establish ‘Sahulat-on-the-Go bazaars’ project. The approval came on April 3, 2025, with the CM has set a target of four months for the establishment of ‘Sahulat-on-the-Go bazaars’ pilot project.
Read more: Lahore to establish 15 modern Sahulat-on-the-Go markets
Phase 1 Launch and Locations
The first phase launched in late December 2025. In the first phase, Sahulat On-the-Go Bazaars have been established at 10 locations across Lahore, including Gulshan-e-Ravi, Shadman, Madar-e-Millat, Madina Market, Township, Sundar Road, Kotha Pind Faisal Town, Kharrak Nala, Awan Town, Valencia, and Shahdara.
According to officials, by February, five more Sahulat On-the-Go Bazaars will be made functional in Lahore. Meanwhile, markets in Barki, Sadar, Nishtar Town, Raiwind Phase II, Faisal Town, Moon Market, and Ferozewala are in the final stages.
The original plan called for 14 locations and 816 stalls across Lahore. The meeting was informed that ‘Sahulat-on-the-Go bazaars’ will be established on the Multan Road, Hanjarwal, Manga Mandi, Raiwind, G-1 Market, Faisal Town, Moon Market and Bedian Road. Areas comprising E-Millat Road, Gulshan Ravi, Shahdara, Shadman and Singh Pura are also included in the project. Construction is now reaching all originally planned sites.
What Do the Bazaars Offer?
These markets offer fruits, vegetables, chicken, and grocery items at DC-approved rates, ensuring relief for the general public. The PSBA sells 13 confirmed essential items including potatoes, onions, tomatoes, garlic, apples, bananas, dates, gram, flour, and sugar.
Pricing policy: Prices offered at about 7% below DC notified rates. During Ramazan, shoppers receive an additional 35% discount on select items.
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. The drive-through feature allows families to shop without leaving their vehicles — a first for government markets in Pakistan.
Investment and Self-Sustaining Model
Budget and Solarization
With a total investment of Rs 630.50 million, the initiative is expected to generate Rs 93.6 million in annual revenue.
Unlike traditional government-run initiatives that rely on continuous funding, ‘Sahulat on the Go’ and other Punjab Sahulat Bazaars Authority (PSBA) projects will operate on a self-sustaining financial model. This means the bazaars are designed to cover their own costs without recurring government subsidies.
A key enabler is the solarization drive. Following a successful pilot project at Township Bazaar, where electricity costs were reduced from Rs 1 million to Rs 100,000 per month, the government has allocated Rs 693 million to transition all Sahulat Bazaars to solar energy.
Revenue Generation
The new authority was made a flagship programme of the chief minister, and Rs10 billion was allocated for its expansion under the development budget of 2025–26. The target is to set up 100 purpose-built Sahulat Bazaars across Punjab’s tehsils.
Encouraged by the success of these markets, the Punjab government has approved Rs 3.433 billion for the construction of 13 new permanent Sahulat Bazaars in key locations, including Noshera, Burewala, Jalalpur, and Sangla Hill.
Punjab Sahulat Bazaars Authority
The institutional backbone of the project is the Punjab Sahulat Bazaars Authority. Official name: Punjab Sahulat Bazaars Authority (PSBA) Legal status: Statutory authority under the Punjab Sahulat Bazaars Authority Act 2025 (approved by the Punjab Assembly in March 2025). Conversion: Formerly operated as the Punjab Model Bazaars Management Company (PMBMC) before being converted into a statutory authority.
The Punjab Sahulat Bazaars Authority (PSBA) has emerged as a rare case where the state has managed to turn a failing idea into a functioning institution. What once began as small, neglected “Model Bazaars” has now been reshaped into a statutory authority, with legal powers, funding, and a province-wide network. The story of PSBA shows how reforms in structure and governance can breathe new life into a public initiative.
PSBA currently operates 36 permanent bazaars across 25 districts, serving nearly 50 million customers annually. These bazaars provide a clean and organized shopping environment, offering products at prices 10-30% lower than market rates.
Mobile App and Home Delivery
PSBA has gone digital. App: Free home delivery app available on Google Play and Apple App Store (launched January 16, 2026). Early uptake: 301,200+ orders in the first 10 days.
As of January 2026, Sahulat Bazaar operates through permanent bazaars, mobile “Sahulat On-the-Go” markets, and temporary weekend stalls across multiple cities in Punjab. The app allows citizens to check daily prices and order essential items for free home delivery in supported areas.
Province-Wide Expansion Plans
The On-The-Go model is scaling rapidly beyond Lahore. Punjab, Pakistan currently consists of 41 districts across 10 administrative divisions. As of February 2026, Sahulat Bazaar services extend across all 41 districts through permanent bazaars, fixed stalls, and mobile units. There are 46 operational permanent Sahulat Bazaars province-wide.
During Ramazan 2026, 74 Sahulat Bazaars operate province-wide.
Rawalpindi – To provide maximum relief to citizens during the holy month of Ramazan ul Mubarrak, 16 Sahulat Bazaars are being established across the Rawalpindi Division. The bazaars will be set up in Rawalpindi, Murree, Attock, Chakwal, and Jhelum, where essential commodities will be available at lower prices compared to the open market.
Planned scale: The long-term target is 100–105 permanent Sahulat Bazaars across Punjab’s tehsils, significantly increasing rural coverage.
Vendor and Public Response
The bazaars have transformed how Lahore’s street vendors operate. Street vendors have welcomed the move, expressing satisfaction that they now operate from proper stalls instead of pushcarts. “We are no longer roadside hawkers; we now have our own shops,” several vendors said, thanking the provincial government for offering a dignified alternative rather than eviction.
The Chairman of the Punjab Sahulat Bazaar Authority stated that the project would reduce the need for subsidies during Ramadan Bazaars, as affordable items will now be available throughout the year.
The Punjab government has announced plans to gradually expand the Sahulat On-the-Go Bazaar project across Lahore and other cities of Punjab. With statutory authority status, Rs 10 billion in funding, and a self-sustaining financial model, the Sahulat On-The-Go Bazaars represent one of Punjab’s most tangible efforts to combat inflation at the street level — delivering affordable essentials directly to the neighborhoods that need them most.