For centuries, Kunri, located in the heart of the Tharparkar Desert, has been renowned for its fiery chili peppers. It serves as the central hub for the trade of these fiery delicacies in the province.
However, the construction of a new chili market building has remained at a standstill for a decade, leaving the valuable construction materials at the site deteriorating. What was meant to be the pride of Kunri has now turned into a derelict cattle shed.
Regrettably, this under-construction building meant for the chili market has been repurposed as an animal shelter, a sorry sight for local residents. They have appealed to the caretaker government to take notice of this depressing situation.
A decade ago, the Sindh government embarked on an ambitious project to erect Asia’s largest chili market on a 22-acre of land along Board Farm Road in Kunri city. Despite the significant financial investment, the construction has languished for a decade under mysterious circumstances.
As a result of the prolonged suspension of construction, the market building has become overgrown with bushes and now lies in ruins. Local residents have transformed it into a cattle pasture, using it as an animal shelter.
The inception of this chili market project dates back to 2007-8, with the initial aim of completion by 2011. During this time, work on the market’s boundary wall and a few shops had commenced. However, the influential contractor of the project mysteriously vanished, leaving the entire construction work incomplete. Millions of rupees worth of materials invested in the project are slowly going to waste as time passes.
This chili market, when completed, will be a massive endeavour, featuring approximately 300 small shops, warehouses, a dispensary, a mosque, three hotels, a restaurant, two police checkpoints, an auction ground, parking areas, a 20,000-gallon underground water tank, well-paved streets inside and outside the market, a modern lighting system, and other amenities. The completion and operation of this market will not only boost the local economy but also pave the way for the area’s development.
Eminent political and social leaders, as well as concerned citizens, have joined in demanding immediate attention to this dire situation, urging authorities to intervene and address the issue at hand.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 23rd, 2023.
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