‘Land for market to be acquired by June 30’

The Punjab Revenue Department has directed the Rawalpindi commissioner to complete the process of acquiring 444 kanals of land by June 30 for setting up the first fruit, vegetable and flower market in Rawalpindi district to control inflation.

The Punjab government had released funds of Rs200 million for the land acquisition in February this year.

There would not be any major hurdle in the way of construction of Flower, Fruit and Vegetable Market once the process of land acquisition is completed.

District Market Committee Chairman Chaudhry Imtiaz Ahmed confirmed and told The Express Tribune that that the first fruit, vegetable flower market of Rawalpindi district was to be built at the entrance of Rawalpindi near Rawat. It was decided to acquire 444 kanals of land for this purpose.

He said that the establishment of this fruit and vegetable market would bring down the prices of vegetables and fruits to a record low. Transportation costs would also be less, he said, adding that it was also approved to build the first cold storage here.

A wide parking lot, warehouse, auction hall, cold storage will also be built at the market, he said, adding that this will be the first vegetable, fruit and flower market of Rawalpindi district. He shared that separate special storage would be made to store flowers and flower petals.

On the direction of the Punjab government, Commissioner Rawalpindi Noorul Amin Mengal has also sought objections till June 30 regarding the market’s establishment. Objections will also be heard till June 30 and from July 1 to July 31, the owners of the said 444 kanals of land will be compensated for the land.

Following the acquisition of land, a work order will be issued in August for the construction of the market.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 29^th, 2022.