Transport route to Rawalpindi’s sabzi mandi opened

Rawalpindi: After the establishment of the first Fruit and Vegetables Market in Rawalpindi near Chak Beli Khan Morr, Commissioner Rawalpindi Division Liaquat Ali Chatha inaugurated the transport route from Soan Adda to Sabzi Mandi here on Thursday.

Now, residents of Rawalpindi city and cantonment board localities could take transport from Soan Adda to reach Sabzimandi near Chak Beli Khan Morr to purchase fresh vegetables and fruits. The Commissioner Rawalpindi Division said that people could purchase all vegetables and fruits at 15 to 20 per cent less in price than the open market shops. He said that the local administration will arrange a total of 60 buses from Soan Adda to Sabzi Mandi Morr. In the first phase, we have issued route permits only for 20 buses, he said.

The residents and traders of Rawalpindi city and cantonment board localities were already unhappy local administration for establishing Sabzi Mandi in the far-off area near Mandra. It was needed to establish this mandi here in the Rawalpindi city area where people could easily approach to purchase fresh vegetables and fruits. How a common man of Rawalpindi afford to pay transport fares to approach the mandi near Chak Beli Khan Morr to buy vegetables and fruits only for one or two days? How he will save money with this hectic practice?

In fact, the local administration has provided benefits for the locals of rural areas of Rawat, Mandra, Kallar Syedan, Chak Beli Khan, and even Gujar Khan where there were enough vegetables already. The majority of people of these areas were farmers and growing vegetables in their lands or homes.

The residents of Rawalpindi city and cantonment board localities were anxiously waiting for a mandi to get some relief but in a van.

Commissioner Rawalpindi Division Liaquat Ali Chatha said that we have established Vegetable and Fruitmandi on a 6.5-acre land. We have appointed 10 sweepers and 4 security guards here in the mandi. We are also making sheds in mandi and initially, all these sheds will be rent-free for four months. But, after four months, the local administration will charge rent, he clarified. “I have directed to establish a cold storage here in the mandi,” he said.

He said that I have formed a five-member committee led by the Assistant Commissioner (Saddar) to address public grievances here in Mandi.

A senior official of district administration told ‘The News’ that the vegetable and fruit market covered an area of 20 kanal. “The land was obtained on lease for one year at Rs400,000 per month. He said that there were 48 plots initially. “These are managed by the market committee and are being allotted to the commission agents working in any fruit and vegetable market, he said.

Talking to ‘The News’ the residents of Rawalpindi city and cantonment board localities said that we wanted mandi here in the city area which was approachable even for a poor man. When will policymakers think about poor segments of society, people said. Committee Chowk area, Haidri Chowk, Misriyal, Adiala Road and Shamsabad were ideal places for the establishment of Sabzi Mandi, people bemoaned.