PUNJAB SAHULAT BAZAARS AUTHORITY: A DISTINGUISHED PUBLIC WELFARE INSTITUTION WITH A UNIQUE BUSINESS MODEL UNMATCHED BY ANY OTHER ENTITY IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

This paper will discuss the Punjab Sahulat Bazaars Authority (PSBA) as a commendable public welfare organization and an exceptional experience of converting a Section 42 company into a full-scaled statutory organization in the Pakistani retail market. The study bases its analysis on qualitative methodology in order to evaluate the legal, financial, and operational performance of PSBA based on official documents, governmental reports, independent media ratings, and third-party ratings. Innovative systems such as real time price boards, solarized infrastructure, inclusion of women traders in a policy of vendor and subsidy free operations were introduced in PSBA under the visionary leadership of Naveed Rafaqat Ahmad. Results show that PSBA continual surpasses similar organizations regarding price regulation and digital adoption and service provision by providing consumers with up to 35 percent savings on the market rates. The paper has concluded that PSBA is a rare manifestation of institutional reforms based on citizens, empowered by law, transparency in operation, and transformational leadership and can be a reference to emerging economies.