RAWALPINDI: Two more fruit and vegetable markets are being established in Rawalpindi which remained without a market of its own for years.

After the establishment of the new fruit and vegetable market in Rawat, Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chatha said similar markets were also being set up in Gujar Khan and Doultala.

He said Rawalpindi had been dependent on the market of Islamabad due to the absence of its own market for long. As a result, there was a significant hike in the prices of fruits and vegetables.

However, he said not only one but three markets were now being established in Rawalpindi.

The commissioner directed to speed up the development work on the fruit and vegetable markets and shift the illegal fruit and vegetable market at Guyana Mor Gujar Khan to the GT Road Hailian.

He also directed the secretary market committee Gujar Khan to file an appeal in the board of revenue regarding the feeder market at Doultala within two days for cancellation of its illegal sale deed.

He expressed these views while presiding over a meeting held by the Department of Agriculture. Director Agriculture Extension Shahid Bukhari, Extra Assistant Director Economics and Marketing Abdul Jabbar, the secretary market committee and other concerned officers participated in the meeting.

The director agriculture stated that sowing of wheat had been completed in Rawalpindi division. Target of area for wheat sowing for the current season was fixed at 1,560,000 acres whereas agriculture department had ensured to sow wheat on 1,616,276 acres this year.

He added that almost 3.7pc increase in the area had been reported as compared to the last year. Adequate stock of urea is available in each district as well per demand. Fertilizer availability on notified prices is being ensured through monitoring.

Moreover, supervisory sale has also been started as per the directions of the chief secretary.

Likewise, Rawat fruit/vegetable market is fully functional now. A new route of public service vehicles has also been started. The prices in the market are 20-25pc lower than the market and once the remaining two markets become fully functional, the prices will fall further due to increased supply.

Published in Dawn, December 5th, 2023