KARACHI: The Market Committee of Sabzi Mandi (Fruit and Vegetable Market) under the Ministry of Food has is involved in corrupt practices including the illegal allotment of numerous plots.
This is also affecting the supply and export of fruits of vegetables and causing massive losses to the national exchequer while millions collected in entry fees and other activities have been embezzled.
Various trader organizations of Sabzi Mandi have called for the dissolution of the Market Committee. In this regard, Welfare Association of Wholesale Vegetable Markets has written numerous letters to the Commissioner Karachi, Chief Minister Sindh and Agriculture Minister Sindh.
Interestingly, the Sindh Government has not taken notice or conducted any enquiry, causing immense resentment among the traders community. Traders at the New Sabzi Mandi have also expressed their reservations over the Market Committee.
The Market Committee was constituted for the third time against the wishes of the traders’ community and was based on outsiders in violation of 2010 directives of the government.
Since then the Market Committee has been involved in corrupt practices and illegal occupation of plots. It allots makeshift stalls and extortion is received from them which are then regularized and permits are issued for millions of rupees.
Market Committee chairman and vice-chairman are also allegedly involved in embezzling entry fees. These complaints have also been received by National Accountability (NAB). They are also involved in tampering with official records and occupying plots from legal allottees.
Wholesale market leaders Ghulam Rasool Lashari, Hafiz Muneer Ahmed, Haji Aleemuddin and Chaudhry Khalid Khurshid have the Sindh government and concerned authorities to draw attention towards the fruits and vegetable traders, exporters and wholesalers and its decision abolishing all market committees.
They urged the chief minister to dissolve the Market Committee imposed upon them, seize all records, restore the actual layout and stop the occupation of all plot at the New Sabzi Mandi.
