GUJRAT: Intelligence agencies have declared the fruit market a big security risk for being located at the city centre along GT Road, suggesting the district government to shift it to outside the city in view of the current security situation.

The warning came at a meeting of the district intelligence committee held at the DCO office which was attended by officials of law enforcement agencies and the district government.

The meeting discussed the overall security situation in the district while different agencies said that most of trucks loaded with fruit consignments would often arrive from tribal areas, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Chaman.

Officials of agencies were quoted as telling the district government to take the security risk seriously and adopt measures to shift the market in the outskirts of the city.

“Even the passing of these trucks through the city can endanger the lives of citizens,” they warned.

Officials of the district government informed the meeting that steps to shift the market to outside the city limits had already been taken and hopefully the traders would also cooperate with the administration.

The traders association of the fruit market has reportedly shown reluctance in shifting the market at the site proposed by the district government along the bypass where the vegetable market has already been shifted a few months ago.

The administration had also offered the traders to choose the site of their own along the Shadiwal Road where necessary facilities would also be provided.

An official said the district government would have to shift the fruit market forcibly as traders were using delaying tactics.

He claimed that a lawmaker of the ruling party had been a major hurdle in shifting the fruit market.

Published in Dawn, January 17th, 2015

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