January 28, 2008	Monday	Muharram 18, 1429

KARACHI, Jan 27: The management of the Market Committee of the New Sabzi Mandi, disregarding the orders of the director-general, National Accountability Bureau, has failed to restore the market’s 164 amenity plots, which were illegally converted into shops.

Under the Karachi Master Plan, these plots were reserved for amenity plots including a fire station, service station, weighbridge, lavatories, parking area etc.

In the order, which was passed by the NAB chief after a detailed briefing by stakeholders on Aug 2, 2007, in the presence of the Sindh chief secretary, the committee was given two weeks to clear the Sabzi Mandi of all encroachments and address the grievances of the stakeholders.

However, even after over five months, neither has the market committee authority addressed the grievances of the stakeholders, nor has any action been initiated against those functionaries responsible for issuing fake allotments, converting amenity plots into shops and other financial irregularities, pointed out members of the Malir Fruit Merchants & Growers’ Association in a letter addressed to the NAB chief.