New Sabzi Mandi: Traders to protest if demands not met

Want Rangers to be deployed inside the market to improve security.

KARACHI: Traders in the New Sabzi Mandi have threatened to go on strike from April 26 if they are not provided with proper security.

The fruit and vegetable vendors at Karachi’s largest market protested against the lack of security in the market and demanded that the government should increase the number of policemen on duty and also deploy Rangers in the area.



The president of the vegetable vendors’ association, Bachanullah, told The Express Tribune that traders were being kidnapped for ransom and were receiving extortion threats from unidentified people. Abdur Razzaq was kidnapped nearly a week ago. Bachanullah said that the police still had not found the trader. He added that it was disappointing that the country’s biggest fruit and vegetable market, where trade runs into millions of rupees daily, there was no adequate security.

“We want the government to increase the strength of policemen in the area and send in Rangers to patrol the Sabzi Mandi from the inside,” he said. “The government should also install CCTV cameras in the market. If our demands are not met, we will have to go on strike.”

The vendors have also asked the government to construct a service road along the market and Super Highway, a route they frequently use. “The government is collecting tax in millions from the market,” said Muslim Khan, a leader of the association. “That road is not fit for our vehicles, let alone the pedestrians.” He added that the Karachi commissioner had assured them their demands will be met.

“We are still waiting for the government to react to what we have asked,” he said. “If they remain unmoved then we will go on strike.” 

Published in The Express Tribune, April 25^th, 2014.