Punjab govt launches free home delivery of subsidised food items in 35 cities

Lahore (Web Desk): The Punjab government has introduced a new doorstep delivery facility for subsidised essential food items in 35 cities, with the aim of making daily necessities affordable and easily accessible for households.

The initiative, which marks the province’s first government-led home delivery programme, is being operated through 46 Sasta or Facilitation Bazaars. 

Since its launch, the project has received an encouraging response, with more than 312,000 orders already delivered to residents.

Under the free home delivery scheme run by the Punjab Sasta Bazaar Authority, 13 basic food items are being sold at prices lower than those fixed by deputy commissioners. Officials say consumers are paying up to seven percent less than the official DC rates, and the delivery service comes at no extra cost.

To avail themselves of the facility, citizens can place orders using a specially developed mobile application for free home delivery, which can be downloaded from both the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.

Once an order is placed, trained riders from the Punjab Sasta Bazaar Authority ensure that the items reach homes directly, helping families save money and time.

The service offers a wide selection of fruits and vegetables, including potatoes, onions, tomatoes, pumpkin, garlic, apples, bananas, dates, lemons, guava and watermelon. In addition to fresh produce, essential grocery items such as chickpeas, gram flour, wheat flour and sugar are also included in the programme.

According to official estimates, the initiative has enabled citizens to save approximately Rs110 million so far. Many residents have expressed satisfaction with the service, describing it as a practical and innovative step that ensures access to quality food at reasonable prices without the need to visit markets.

In a statement, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said the provincial government remains focused on easing the impact of inflation on the public.

She added that the free home delivery initiative will be gradually expanded to more cities across Punjab so that a larger segment of the population can benefit from it.