‘Local markets to help curb inflation in Pindi’

Approval accorded to set up vegetable, fruit, flower markets in Ring Road Industrial Zone

RAWALPINDI:

Rawalpindi District Market Committee Chairman Chaudhry Imtiaz Ahmed has said that formal approval has been accorded to set up vegetable, fruit and flower markets outside the city in Rawat Ring Road Industrial Zone this year.

The news was welcomed by traders and middlemen who expressed their appreciation and approval. These three markets along with Rawat Industrial Zone will be set up by the end of this year.

While visiting the markets of Kahuta Tehsil, Ahmed said there was no vegetable, fruit and flower market in the Rawalpindi district, as a result of which we could not control the price of vegetables and fruits.

"We want to set up vegetable and fruit markets near Rawat, Taxila and Murree, the three main entrances to Rawalpindi district."

This will reduce the delivery fares of vegetables, fruits and groceries and the goods will be available to the citizens across the district at their doorstep without taxes or fees.

In the first phase, it has been decided to set up vegetable, fruit and flower markets near Rawat. In the second phase, vegetable and flower markets will be set up at the entrance from Taxila to Rawalpindi and in the third phase at the entrance from Murree to Rawalpindi.

"The land has also been allotted for these three markets along with the first Rawat Interchange on Ring Road," he added.

"After the foundation stone of the Ring Road is laid, we will start measures for setting up the vegetable, fruit and flower market."

Extensive parking, cold storage facilities large warehouses, shades, washrooms, hotels, sheds, water, electricity, gas, telephones will also be provided to these markets.

While we have also approved to set up 12 sasta (economical) Ramazan bazaars in Rawalpindi city and the Cantt for the supply of inexpensive food items like sugar, ghee flour, basin, pulses, lemons, tomatoes, potatoes, onions during Ramadan.

There will be a Ramazan bazaar in every tehsil of the district. All these inexpensive Ramazan bazaars will be set up on Shaban 28 and these will be open from 8 am to 5 pm.

After Ramadan 20, he said the Sasta Ramazan bazaars will be converted into Eid bazaars and all these bazaars would be closed on Chand Raat (moon sighting night).

Later, he checked the rate list in Kahuta Bazaar. and gave a warning to 70 shopkeepers on profiteering.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 7^th, 2021.