KARACHI, July 22: A model vegetable and fruit market has been planned to meet the needs of a growing population of Lyari Town. Municipal sources said for this purpose the site near Lyari Stadium and Lyari General Hospital had been proposed to the city government.

At present, the only shopping centre in the area is Lea Market which can not meet the needs of town residents. Besides, people face many traffic hurdles to reach the Lea Market. In 1996, the government had decided to construct a super market near the Bizenjo Chowk at the main Chawkiwara Road. Though the construction work on the project had been completed, the allotments of shops delayed for one reason or another.

Over the years, due to increase in transport activity Lea Market has been converted into a big bus terminus and transporters virtually control the important arteries of the town.

Because of frequent traffic jams, the people from remote areas of the town face many difficulties to reach the market.

Taking advantage of this situation, vendors and hawkers have encroached upon the streets and roads where they illegally established shops and cabins, thereby creating mess all around.

Lea Market was developed as a local market before the inception of Pakistan. Until 1960s, the market and its surrounding areas remained pleasant shopping spots for middle and low-income groups. People used to come here not only from various parts of the city but also from interior Sindh and Balochistan as it had variety of utilities ranging from vegetables and fruits to cloth and jewels.

But soon after the construction boom that started in 1970s, the area was hit by a population explosion and situation has been worsening since then. Transport mafia and builders changed the look of the entire area.