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Sunday, November 24, 2013
Sabzi Mandi traders in Karachi threaten shutdown over ‘issues’Staff Report
KARACHI: Vegetable traders of New Sabzi Mandi on Saturday threatened to shut their businesses over persisting problems of load shedding, robberies and extortion, if their demands would not be met by December 15.
Addressing a protest rally in front of the market’s committee office, Karachi Vegetable Traders Association (KVTA) Chairman Haji Behram said that the vegetable market was facing several problems including damaged roads, shortage of gas, water and electricity facilities.
“Incidents of robberies, extortion and kidnapping for ransom are common in the market,” he stated.
Lamenting the negligent behaviour of the government authorities, he revealed that the government was briefed regarding the escalating issues, but there has been no action so far. “I had briefed the government over these issues, but none of the authorities paid attention towards facilitating traders,” he said. Prevalence of corruption and anti-civic attitudes are common in Pakistan, and therefore the vegetable market is not immune to the evils as well.
Behram said that office-bearers of the market committee demand bribe from traders in order to provide facilities to them, but the KVTA has decided to put its foot down in this matter. “We have decided to resist their illegal activities,” the trader said angrily. Pointing towards electricity theft, a matter against which the Karachi Electric Supply Corporation has been taken actions across the metropolis, the trader said that nobody would be allowed to steal electricity and water in the market.
“We would only pay electricity bills to the KESC,” he vowed.
He alleged that with the cooperation of market committee, some elements had illegally occupied shops, parking lots and other places in the designated market premises. Speaking on the occasion, Fruit Market Chairman Abdul Razzaq said that they had contacted every office bearer of the government regarding the problems; however, so far, all efforts have been in vain. Requesting assistance, he said, “We appeal the government through media to look into the matter otherwise traders will be forced to shutdown their businesses.”
Several other leaders of different fruit and vegetable associations also addressed the protest rally. The participants included representatives of Memon Community’s AbdulGhani, All Khawaja Welfare Society Chairman and representative of Khawaja Community, Ejaz Khawaja and Market Committee member Lala Rahim.
It is worth mentioning that the prices of vegetables are already skyrocketing. Only in November, the prices of tomatoes, potatoes, onions and other vegetables quadrupled, putting the prices of these essentials beyond the buying capacity of a large segment of the population. In case of a shutdown by Sabzi Mandi traders, the price would increase further, as demand remains same and circulation reduces by a huge margin. Food inflation, the figures of which were issued last Friday, already stands very high. Only in two weeks, the price of potatoes increased from 21.67 percent to 126.09 percent, while onions increased from 0.69 percent to 83.68 percent. Furthermore, food insecurity is on the rise in Sindh and some 63 percent population - urban and rural - due to decline in real wages, are already forced to buy cheaper, less nutritional food. Making at least 72 percent of the province food insecure.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk