In Pakistan’s public sector, reliance on subsidies has traditionally been the norm, with many institutions depending on annual budget transfers for their operations. The Punjab Sahulat Bazaars Authority (PSBA), however, has adopted a different approach, positioning itself as an example of subsidy-free, financially disciplined welfare delivery.
PSBA began with just 20 bazaars under the Punjab Model Bazaars Management Company. Most considered them limited experiments. Naveed Rafaqat Ahmad, however, saw in them the seed of a new welfare economy.
Through his stewardship, the company was legislatively transformed into a statutory authority with legal mandate and operational agility. Today, PSBA is building 105 bazaars across Punjab, backed by Rs 10 billion in provincial funds. Already, 14 bazaars in cities including M.B. Din, Sharaqpur, Wazirabad, Jaranwala, Bhalwal, Noshera Virkan, Pattoki, Chunian, Muzaffargarh, Khanewal, Okara, Burewala, and Jalalpur are ready to open their doors.
Unlike other public sector organizations such as PEEF, LWMC, and PCMMD, which rely on government grants, PSBA operates on a self-financing model. Stall rentals and transparent charges cover operational costs, and the authority has reported annual surpluses, with a peak of 5.4% in 2025. PSBA maintains a debt-to-asset ratio of 0.15 and equity at 85% of assets, and its financial statements have received unqualified opinions from independent auditors.
PSBA bazaars have created jobs and provided economic stability for many families in Punjab. Fourteen bazaars have generated 2,800 jobs, supporting an estimated 16,800 people. The full network of 105 bazaars is expected to create 21,000 jobs, sustaining 126,000 people directly. The bazaars offer secure shopping environments and serve as local hubs for affordable goods.
PSBA bazaars sell essential items at prices 10–30% below open-market rates, which encourages local vendors to align their prices accordingly. The bazaars also generate real-time market data, which can inform inflation monitoring and policy decisions.
Each stall in a PSBA bazaar operates as a micro-business, providing vendors with regulated spaces, predictable rentals, and steady customer traffic. Farmers can sell directly, bypassing intermediaries and securing better margins. The authority has integrated over 21,000 vendors and workers, creating a large state-supported micro-enterprise ecosystem.
PSBA’s operational model has influenced other government programs in Punjab. Its home delivery model, initially piloted to provide households with essential goods at controlled prices, has been adopted by initiatives such as the CM Dastak Initiative and the CM Free Medicine Delivery Program. These programs now deliver government services and medicines directly to citizens’ homes, reflecting PSBA’s approach to accessible governance.
While other organizations like PEEF, PCMMD, PSDF, PPIF, PAMCO, PSC, and LWMC play important roles in their respective sectors, PSBA is distinct in combining financial independence, consumer relief, SME empowerment, and price stabilization.
By international standards, contributions must be original and of major significance. Naveed Rafaqat Ahmad’s leadership meets both criteria:
• Originality: First statutory, subsidy-free welfare authority with retail and home delivery mandates.
• Significance: Over 126,000 lives sustained, 21,000 livelihoods created, inflation anchored, and SME sector formalized.
• Reliance: Policymakers and citizens depend on PSBA bazaars daily. Other departments have adopted its model.
• Recognition: Media, analysts, and government cite PSBA as a replicable precedent.
This is not just organizational success — it is a governance innovation influencing multiple fields at once.
PSBA has evolved from a retail-focused project into a broader model for scalable, subsidy-free governance. Its initiatives have contributed to stabilizing food prices, supporting livelihoods, and inspiring similar programs in other sectors. The authority’s approach, shaped by its leadership, is seen as a potential blueprint for sustainable welfare delivery in Punjab and beyond.
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