The traders of new Sabzi Mandi (vegetable market) have decided to stage a sit-in at the Superhighway for an indefinite time to block the supply of goods to the upcountry from Wednesday (today) as the talks between the provincial government and traders failed on Tuesday.
A delegation of traders’ body, representing affectees of New Sabzi Mandi blaze, met the secretary agriculture and sought compensation money for the effected traders but the government refused to accept their demands. Later, the traders of vegetable market in a meeting decided to stage a sit-in at the Superhighway to block supply of goods to the upcountry for indefinite period from Wednesday (today).
“We went to the secretary agriculture who invited us for talks yesterday but there was no outcome,” All Vegetable Tajir Biradri Alliance (AVTBA) chairman and member market committee Haji Syed Abdul Razzak Shah told Pakistan Today.
“Earlier, we met the additional secretary and apprised him about the situation of traders after the fire blaze that destroyed almost 60 percent of the market, but he showed inability to compensate the affected traders. Later, we went to the secretary agriculture but he also failed to convince the traders. The secretary invited us again for talks on Wednesday (today) but the traders have decided to stage a sit-in at the Superhighway for indefinite time from Wednesday,” Shah added.
On Monday, the AVTBA chairman said the traders threatened to stage a sit-in at the Superhighway to block supply of goods if the government failed to announce compensation package for the victims.
“We will stage a sit-in at the Superhighway to block supply of goods to the upcountry. If the government did not listen to us, we will decide to close one of Asia’s biggest fruit market for an indefinite period,” the AVTBA president announced.
“Due to fire, the traders of fruit and vegetable markets suffered losses of above Rs 4.5 billion. We are not claiming compensation from the government but at least someone should visit us for knowing our problems,” he added.
“We have prepared list of the affected traders and forwarded it to the Sindh governor, chief minister, agriculture secretary, chief secretary, commissioner and home department. Today, we have decided to stage a sit-in at the Superhighway as we have given deadline of five days to the government for listening to our problems which has expired today (Tuesday). Meanwhile, the agriculture secretary called me and requested to visit his office on Tuesday.”
“Besides, one of the Asia’s largest fruit and vegetable market in Karachi does not have water supply and network of sewerage system which has increased miseries of the traders”, he added.