Karachi's DHA residents long for weekly flea market

Authorities closed down Qayyumabad Chowrangi Bachat Bazaar in January this year

KARACHI: In January this year, the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) closed down its 'bachat bazaar' near the Qayyumabad roundabout, ending a 35-year-old tradition of hosting weekly flea markets in its jurisdiction.

The move came nearly a year after authorities had shut down the popular Sunday Bazaar in DHA's Phase-VIII which led to thousands losing their livelihoods, entirely or in parts, and a much higher number of customers not only being displeased but also deprived from buying new and used goods at low prices.

The contractor of both the temporary markets, Haji Farooq, said the closure of the Qayyumabad market, which falls in Phase-VII extension and had 800 to 900 stalls, has affected around 5,000 to 7,000 stallholders and workers. "The decision to close down the market was taken by the DHA administration as it was established on plots whose owners wanted the land vacated," Farooq told The Express Tribune.



Some suggest the sudden wrap-up was caused after a judge residing nearby felt the market posed security issues. "Whatever the reason maybe, we understand the owners' right to construct on their land. We are not against that but just sad that so many people suffered," said Farooq.

The market, spread over eight acres, was put up every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday hosting a variety of stalls from fruits and vegetables to second-hand clothes, toys and various other accessories.

DHA administrator Brigadier Zubair Ahmed said there is no space for re-launching the bachat bazaar as all plots in the authority are being developed. "There is no empty space which is undeveloped…no empty plots for hosting such a big market, although we would have wanted it as people were able to get cheaper stuff."

Decades-old tale

The metropolis has been hosting weekly bazaars for over 35 years since early 1980s. In 1981, on the instructions of the federal government, Bureau of Supply and Prices director Brigadier Qamarul Islam gave directions to start weekly bachat bazaars in Karachi, explained Malik Basheer Ahmed, president of the United Bachat Bazaar Stallholder Welfare Organisation.

"The idea was to provide fruits, vegetables and confectionaries at cheap rates. The bureau asked the Sabzi Mandi wholesalers to sell their fruits and vegetables at the same rates [at the bazaars] as they do at the mandi," he recalled.



The weekly bazaars were first introduced on Fridays, which was then a weekly holiday, thus leading to the phrase 'Juma Bazaar'. But when the government switched the weekly holiday to Sunday, the bazaars became known as 'Itwar Bazaar'. According to Farooq, four Juma Bazaars were established in Karachi in 1981: University Road in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Tooba Masjid in DHA Phase-II, Korangi No. 5 and Hyderi.

The bazaar in DHA, initially starting from Tooba Masjid, has changed a number of places, from near Qayyumabad Nala to Misri Shah Mazaar, and then Phase-VIII, before its final resettlement to near Qayyumabad Chowrangi. Today, DHA hosts no weekly bazaars but, in the rest of the city, there are about 294 bachat bazaars.

'It was a blessing'

Sana Faisal, a banker, remembers her delight every time she spotted a 'branded' clothing item at the Sunday Bazaar. "In Itwar bazaar, I could find copies of designer lawn for half the price. It was a blessing."

The market also became a famous meeting spot, where people from across the city would come for shopping as well as scrumptious chaat or biryani. It was a popular spot for foreigners too.

Consumer rights activist Hamid Maker, who had worked with his team on setting up and running the improved Sunday Bazaar, believes the market should be revived. "The DHA has a lot of vacant plots in Phase-VIII, it can start there," he suggested.



Ahmed, from the stallholders' association, who himself had a vegetable stall, says the market was the most popular in the city. "We were able to make good money. Now I have stalls at other weekly markets but it's not the same," he said dejectedly. Before the Sunday Bazaar at Phase-VIII was wrapped up, the administration recorded 11,000 cars and 8,000 to 9,000 motorcyles being parked there every week. "It was a model bazaar. It should be revived not only for us stallholders but for the customers as well," said Ahmed.

Plot owners vs DHA

While the stallholders lament losing an avenue for profitable business, the DHA plot owners on whose land the markets were set up also have a tale to narrate.

A year after it was demolished, debris continues to lie on the land where the famous Sunday Bazaar of Phase-VIII was set up. The orange shade, concrete structures and panaflex have yet to be removed. Back in the day, DHA had been allowing contractors to establish bachat bazaars on allotted plots. Farooq used to pay Rs1 million a month to the authority as rent for using the land in Phase-VIII. Meanwhile, the DHA never informed the plot owners about the activity being carried out on their plots, let alone share with them any profits for utilising their land.

“When my husband came to know, he was surprised to see a proper market built on our plot,” said one of the plot owners, Fauzia Khan, on whose land in Khayaban-e-Ghalib the Sunday market was set up. “The DHA never told us even though it was our land they were using.”

When Khan wanted to sell her plot, she was denied permission. “We couldn’t sell our plot for five, six years because of Sunday Bazaar,” she claimed.
Even though the market has moved, her agony continues as the DHA has yet to give her permission for construction. Moreover, Khan says when she first purchased the plot she had paid development charges to DHA. But after the market’s demolition, the authority is demanding payment of development charges once again. DHA administrator Brig Zubair Ahmed said they took development charges from plot owners across the board. Construction in Sector-E [where Khan’s plot is located] will start once lines for electricity and gas have been laid down, he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 29^th, 2016.