‘Registration of godowns mandatory’

Multan Market Committee Secretary Ijaz Saleem Minais said that traders owning godowns to store business goods need to get their storage facilities registered or else these would be considered as hoarding facilities.

Speaking to APP on Wednesday, he stated that laws pertaining to godowns or storage of business goods were clear. “Business persons either dealing in commodities or fruits and vegetables, would have to get their storage facilities registered. They were also required to maintain record of movement of stock, to and from godowns.”

The secretary disclosed that so far, 125 big godowns had been registered. He further said that Multan Ghalla Mandi or food grain market, spread over 35 acres of land, was the largest in South Punjab. Built in 1965, the market now appears to be insufficient to cater to the requirements of businesses, given the rush of people witnessed every day.

Grocers and merchants from across Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur and Sahiwal divisions reach this market to buy goods for their businesses. Around 350 trucks, loaders and pick ups move in and out of this market every day to propel business worth millions, providing a means of earning for many workers.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 10^th, 2020.