RAWALPINDI: Traders from Raja Bazaar on Wednesday gave a seven-day deadline to Punjab Food Authority (PFA) to stop operation against sale of loose items which include spices and pulses.

Addressing a press conference at Rawalpindi Press Club, Markazi Anjuman-i-Tajran Chairman Malik Shahid Ghafoor Paracha sought withdrawal of cases registered against five traders on charges of confronting officials of the food authority.

Malik Shahid Ghafoor Paracha was also accompanied by Ganjmandi Traders Union President Raja Jamil and other elected representatives of traders.

Say sale of loose items in packing not possible for wholesalers

Mr Paracha warned that if the demands were not accepted, they would observe a countrywide shutterdown strike.

He said it was not possible for wholesale dealers to follow PFA orders to sell pulses, spices and other edibles in 1kg and 500 grams packs.

He said the PFA officials were also involved in misbehaving with traders which was not acceptable at any cost.

Mr Paracha said earlier the food authority had given a week’s time to traders of Raja Bazaar to sell commodities in packs and now the traders were giving the authority seven days to withdraw case against them and stop victimising them.

“The prime minister and the chief minister should intervene and address the reservations of traders or else we will observe a complete strike across the country against the food authority’s actions,” the traders’ leader said.

Earlier, the traders took out a protest rally from Fawwara Chowk to the press club against the food authority’s raids.

The traders chanted slogans against the authority and urged the chief minister to stop it from victimising the traders.

In 2017, the PFA had given a year’s deadline to traders to shift to selling commodities in packing.

Last week, the PFA team visited Ganjmandi, Ansari Market, Dalgiran Bazaar, Naswari Bazaar, Sori Gali, Wheat Mandi, Ratta Road and Sooter Mandi and found traders still selling loose item and tried to seal some shops but the traders resisted.

During the operation, a brief brawl took place between the PFA team and the local traders.

The protesters burnt old tyres and chanted slogans against the PFA teams, which led to traffic jam.

The food authority team alleged that the shopkeepers misbehaved with female staff of the authority.

The traders’ leaders Shahid Ghafoor Paracha and Sharjeel Mir reached the scene and tried to cool the tempers.

Published in Dawn, January 10th, 2019