PESHAWAR: The traders of Kohat district on Monday resented the opening of a private vegetable and fruit market in the area and demanded its immediate closure by the local administration.

They also asked the government to act against the violators of the local government rules to ensure proper tax collection.

The office-bearers of the Kohat Commission Agents Association told reporters at the Peshawar Press Club that a government-run vegetable and fruit market spread over 67 kanals of land was operational in Kohat but some influential people had opened a private one in the area.

Association president Fayaz Afridi said the local traders had moved the high court that ordered the sealing of the private market but the administration hadn’t acted accordingly as the market’s operators were associated with the ruling PTI.

He said the owners of the private market were also supported by the police.

“We are paying all duties and taxes and cooperating with the government to increase its revenue but the influential people are bent on harming revenue collections,” he said.

Mr Afridi demanded the immediate closure of all privately-operated vegetable and fruit markets to ensure tax collection on a regular basis.

He said a government fruit and vegetable market was operated by the TMA staff with no intervention by private people, while the private market was managed by individuals with the commission agents avoiding to take part in its activities.

“We will move the court if the government doesn’t act against the operator of the private vegetable market,” he warned.

Published in Dawn, January 14th, 2020