Stale vegetables flood Empress Market

KARACHI: Following the rain that hit the city early Sunday, stale vegetables have flooded Empress Market, one of Karachi’s main retail markets for fruits, vegetables and grains.

Several people went to Empress Market to buy vegetables, but were disappointed to find vendors not only selling stale vegetables, but that too from stalls submerged in muddy water.

Customers were further disappointed that the soiled vegetables were being sold at rates higher than normal. “I came to Empress Market thinking that I will be able to find cheaper vegetables,” complained a disgruntled customer, Javed, “Potatoes are being sold at Rs24 per kilogramme even though they were for Rs18 day before yesterday.”

The Sabzi Mandi also stopped supplying vegetables to the city, worsening the vegetable shortage in other parts of the city.

Some other customers were concerned about the health hazards posed by the soiled vegetables. “They are very dirty and extremely bad for health, but there is no other option but to buy them,” said Rana.

It was not just vegetables. Wheat and other grains were sold from stalls standing in pools of muddy water.

Vendors defended themselves by saying that they are being forced to sell stale vegetables and fruits.

“The fields and wholesale markets have become very muddy and they sell expensive vegetables,” explained Nawab, a vegetable vendor, “We sell what we have in our stock even if it is stale.”

Published in the Expres Tribune, June 8^th, 2010.