Rawalpindi’s vegetable and fruit market still a pipe dream

Local authorities have failed to start work on the first fully tax-free fruit, vegetable and flower market in Rawalpindi despite the release of Rs200 million funds by the Punjab government six months ago.

The District Market Committee had prepared a project to build the vegetable fruit and flower market at the main entrance of the city near Rawat and 444-kanal had to be acquired for the project.

The Punjab government had transferred the approved sum to the Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner's account, but despite the passage of six months, the said land for the vegetable, fruit and flower market is yet to be acquired.

The delay in acquiring the land and setting up the market has also led to a surge in its cost as owners have refused to give land to the district administration at the previous estimated rate and they are demanding higher compensations for the land, sources said.

District Price Committee Chaudhary Imtiaz Ahmed Chairman said that the vegetable and fruit market aimed to provide commodities to the citizens at affordable rates

He said that the decision to set up the vegetable and grain market near Rawat had been taken keeping in view its proximity to the Rawalpindi Ring Road project.

He said that Rawat is the main entrance point of Rawalpindi from where all seven tehsils of the district can easily be accessed.

He said that there would be no transport and business tax on commodities that will be available in the new market.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 21^st, 2022.