Wholesale markets to be set up near Ring Road

Decision to reduce transportation cost of grocers

RAWALPINDI:

The district administration will set up wholesale fruit and vegetable markets at the starting point of the Ring Road near Rawat where facilities such as a big parking lot, water, electricity and gas supply will be ensured, a spokesperson shared on Tuesday. Large shops and warehouses will also be set up in the market, they added.

District Market Committee Chairman Chaudhry Imtiaz Ahmed told The Express Tribune that vegetable and flower markets are going to be set up in Rawalpindi for the first time in 2021. Currently, well-regulated wholesale markets exist in Islamabad where retailers from all tehsils of Rawalpindi district go every morning to make daily purchase, he informed, adding that the long commute adds to the cost of commodities.

Ahmed said that with the establishment of these markets in Rawalpindi, the prices of the commodities are expected to come down. He also said that wholesale markets near three entry points of Rawalpindi district, including Rawat, Taxila, and Murree will also be set-up soon.

At present, there is 30 per cent artificial inflation and transport fares are causing the prices to surge up to 10 per cent to 15 per cent, Ahmed noted. He shared that once these markets are established, the Price Committee chairman will not only be able to inspect prices but they will be authorised to impose fines on profiteers and enforce official rates.

To control price-hike, the Punjab government has formally approved to delegate powers of the price magistrates to the chairpersons of all 36 District Market Committees across the province, the spokesperson maintained.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 30^th, 2020.