Pindi’s new vegetable market faces setbacks

Traders reluctant to shift operations to new market

RAWALPINDI:

The recently established fruit and vegetable market in Rawalpindi is facing a setback, as it struggles to gain traction and interest from both vendors and local farmers.

The market, hastily inaugurated by the Rawalpindi district administration on November 16, has encountered challenges such as a lack of facilities, inadequate transportation, and a general disinterest among stakeholders.

Three weeks after its opening, all temporary sheds in the vegetable and fruit market stand empty, with local farmers expressing a lack of enthusiasm for the project. The district administration's quick inauguration, conducted before the construction of road access to the market, has left an impression of incomplete infrastructure.

Despite efforts to emulate the Islamabad vegetable and fruit market, offering a separate facility for Rawalpindi residents, the lack of proper amenities has deterred both traders and customers.

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Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chatta's promise of a 15 to 20 per cent reduction in prices and a dedicated space for local farmers to sell their produce has not materialised. One significant factor contributing to the market's failure is the absence of cold storage facilities, making it challenging to store perishable items. Even the incentive of free shed usage for the first four months failed to attract local traders to the market.

A vendor, operating a radish stall in the market, highlighted the project's unpopularity, citing a lack of basic facilities such as drinking water and the absence of proper road access.

The difficult terrain and inadequate infrastructure make it challenging for traders to bring goods to the market, affecting both supply and demand.

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According to a source within the commissioner's office, efforts are underway to complete the 6-acre market project soon. A letter seeking additional funds from the Punjab government for road construction, cold storage, water supply, and washrooms has been submitted. However, established businesses in the Islamabad market pose a challenge, as traders are hesitant to shift their operations to the new market. The potential introduction of public transport access is seen as a possible solution to attract both traders and customers to the struggling market.

Despite attempts to seek clarification from Liaquat Ali Chatta on the market's failure, no response was received at the time of reporting. The district administration is now focused on addressing the lack of facilities and infrastructure issues to revive the project and make it more appealing to traders and the public.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 11^th, 2023.