On the directions of Capital Development Authority (CDA) Chairman Maroof Afzal, CDA is executing a successful and result oriented push to secure availability of fresh and hygienic fruits and vegetables in the weekly bazaars at cheaper rates.
Consequently fruits and vegetables are being sold in the Islamabad’s weekly bazaars at rates lower than rates at weekly bazaars in Rawalpindi and other markets of Islamabad.
A spokesman of CDA while giving a comparative analysis of the rates stated that potato, onion, tomato, garlic, green chili, bell pepper, bitter gourd, peas, apple, banana and peach were being sold at Rs 72, 40, 35, 140, 60, 80, 40, 100, 280, 100 and 140 per kg respectively in other markets of Islamabad while these commodities were sold at Rs 64, 28, 20, 80,28, 36, 20, 70, 120, 90 and 80 per kg respectively in CDA weekly bazaars in Islamabad last week.
The spokesman added that the relevant functionaries of CDA bazaars regularly visit the fruit and vegetable market with purpose to fix the prices of the commodities. To enhance and improve the security, concrete steps have been taken at weekly bazaars. Security guards have been deputed at all gates with metal detectors. Similarly walk through gates have also been installed.
The bazaars’ administration has started strict monitoring of sale of the eatables at prescribed rates and legal action is taken against the violators. Licenses of different stall holders have been cancelled so far in this regard while fine was also imposed on several stall holders against complaints of sub standard provisions.
The spokesman further said that weekly bazaars administration is making efforts and devising mechanism to get these commodities of daily use directly from the grower thus minimizing the role of middle man.
