GUJRAT: Justice Shahid Jameel Khan of the Lahore High Court has ordered the district administration to unseal the local fruit market on a temporary basis after it reached an agreement with traders to shift the market to a new site before the next dengue season, starting from January 2016.

The traders were also told to take measures to make the present site clean and secure within three days.

The fruit market had been sealed by the local authorities on October 22 last after detecting dengue larva from there twice in a week.

The fruit market traders’ association had filed a writ petition in the LHC challenging the administration’s action.

Both parties held various rounds of negotiations on the court directions to resolve the issue and finally reached an agreement which was presented in the LHC on Monday where District Coordination Officer Liaqat Ali Chatha and traders’ association president Hafiz Azizur Rehman were also present. As per the agreement, the traders will shift the fruit market before the next dengue season to the new site near Hariyewala Chowk.

They will also ensure security and cleanliness at the market through hiring at least 15 sweepers, a tractor and a dumper truck to remove garbage from the market.

The administration has assured the traders of provision of basic infrastructure at the new market site. However, the traders will have to repay the cost of infrastructure in 14 installments to the government, besides providing certain guarantee of the repayment.

Keeping in view the agreement, the LHC disposed of the petition, ordering unsealing of fruit market.

Published in Dawn, November 3rd, 2015

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