Market shopkeepers continue to await justice

City govt had promised to provide alternate marketplace.

KARACHI:

No progress has been made to date on providing alternate shops to Shahabuddin Market’s traders, which had been agreed in 2007, according to a delegation of the market’s shopkeepers on Friday.

A 40-member delegation of small traders held a meeting with Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Senior Vice President Talat Mahmood and apprised him of problems faced by Shahabuddin Market’s shopkeepers.

The delegation informed Mahmood about displacement of shops under an agreement between the market and City Government Karachi, according to which an alternate place was to be built and provided within 18 months. The matter continues to remain pending in court, the delegation stated.

Delegation leader Saleem claimed that 392 shopkeepers had been affected directly and were losing their business daily. He requested Mahmood to approach the Sindh governor and ask him to direct the city government to resolve their issues.

Mahmood noted that some important documents regarding the matter were missing and suggested that a team of four market representatives should be made, who could approach Sindh Provincial Minister of Local Bodies Agha Siraj Durrani to get the issue resolved.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 26^th, 2011.