KARACHI: Removal of encroachments at Sabzi Mandi ordered
By Habib Khan Ghori
KARACHI, July 16: The Kishan Chand Parwani Committee constituted by the chief minister to streamline the working of the new Sabzi Mandi and to check corruption in the market committee, has directed the market committee to remove encroachments from parking areas and all those allotments which were issued after the fixed date should be cancelled.
The president of Malir Wholesale Fresh Fruits Merchants Growers Association, Mohammad Javed, has asked the committee to pay a visit to the Sabzi Mandi for verification of ground realities and the situation prevailing in the mandi.
The committee, which was headed by former MNA Parwani, comprising former minister Abdul Hakim Baloch, secretary agriculture, senior member land revenue department, and secretary fisheries, has confirmed all allotments made by Brig Qadir including 180 KMC allotment after due date. However, 63 cases of the out-of-date allotment made by Col Javed Iqbal and 54 by administrator Abdul Jabber Abbasi and 109 by Mohammad Akbar Zardari were declared illegal and recommended for cancellation.
The committee has also decided that in cases of new comers, the area in vegetable section should be restricted to 120 sq-ft and in fruit section 300sq-ft. In case of excess area be deducted and allotted to genuine growers through balloting by the standing committee.
It may be recalled that the advisory committee on the affairs of the new Sabzi Mandi on Super Highway, which was constituted by the agriculture department in October last, was disbanded on the directive of food and agriculture adviser.
Meanwhile, welcoming the Parwani committee the stakeholders have appealed to the chief minister to include representatives of five Corps and National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to ensure its implementation enforced and implemented in letter and in spirit.
The committee was formed following reports of rampant corruption in the market committee and complaints of encroachment in parking areas and allotment of plots to more than one person and embezzlement in the money collected from vehicles as entry fee and etc.
However, when the AC asked the market committee to furnish details of the allottees, growers, and allotment to newcomers and details of entry fee and its record since the Sabzi Mandi was shifted to its new premises, and accounts of the market committee, along with balance sheet and etc, the advisory committee was shown the way in May.
