Project of vegetable markets still a ‘pipe dream’!

With an aim to cater to the needs of ever-increasing population in the metropolis, the government’s plan to establish two new sabzi mandis (vegetable markets) on the city’s outskirts remains what the sources call ‘a pipe dream’ as the construction on the sites could not be kicked off even after the passage of more than four years.

In 2009, the Sindh government had decided to set up two new vegetable markets (sabzi mandis) at a cost of Rs 3 billion on the city’s outskirts to facilitate ever-growing population.

These markets, having the total cost of Rs 3 billion and spreading over 100 acres of land, are supposed to be established at Northern Bypass and Ghaghar Phattak on Indus Highway.

The government had purchased the land for the said purpose in 2008, however, the work on the sites could not be started due to apathy of authorities concerned. The construction work of both the markets had to be completed by June 2010, sources in the agriculture department told Pakistan Today.

According to the summary approved by the Sindh chief minister, officials said the scrutiny committee had fixed market price in respect of category A-1 of Deh Gundapass at R s4 million per acre and Rs 10 million per acre for Deh Joveji. Thus, the cost of the required land of 200 acres would be Rs 1,400 million, adding that the process of purchasing land for the project had taken a long time, they said.

The funds for the construction of boundary walls and gates, transport, machinery and equipment, operational cost/recruiting contingencies, media campaigns, consultancy charges and third-party monitoring cost (one percent) had been provided by the provincial government through the Annual Development Programme (ADP). However, the ill-planning and apathy of authorities had put this important plan in cold storage.

The project is aimed at improving farm productivity, food security and economic conditions of the small farmers, besides augmenting the country’s economy to support farmers for selling their products at reasonable rates.

The soil of Sindh has a lot of potential for growing varieties of vegetables specially the lower parts of the province for its climatic conditions which have also advantages for growing many off-season vegetables. Besides, it is the second largest province of the country in area where vegetables were being cultivated, they said, adding the marketing aspects of vegetables had not received sufficient attention despite the government’s efforts for the promotion of agriculture sector.

The markets were to facilitate the growers and traders by providing basic infrastructure, wide roads, ample vehicle parking space and utilities like water supply, sewerage, surface drainage, internal RCC roads, electricity, mosques, lavatory block and post office. It would also have space for cold storage, construction of auction platforms and public facilitation centres such as banks, post office, information centre, digital display boards and weigh bridges.

The market committee of Karachi is responsible for operation of markets under the provision of APM Act 1939 and would ensure transparent auction of the products. Moreover, the sources said the market fee would be charged from the buyers as per the Agriculture Produce Market Act 1939.

Talking to Pakistan Today, Abdul Rauf Tanoli, General Secretary of the Welfare Association of Wholesale Vegetable Market, said the establishment of new vegetable markets would not facilitate traders and consumers. The government had yet to provide basic facilities, including potable water, electricity, sewerage system and roads at the existing market that had been declared as a model market of the country, he added.

He said the government was wasting billions of rupees on such projects instead of maintaining the infrastructure of the existing one. He alleged that many market committee officials were involved in corruption and failed to facilitate traders which had badly affected the revenue collection. He demanded that the government should appoint sincere officials on the market committees and ensure provision of basic amenities.