KARACHI, June 27: Due to lack of proper storage facility and non-supply of electricity at new fruit market, located at Superhighway, more than Rs0.7 million worth of fruits and vegetable perish every day.

The New Subzimandi that was shifted from its original place still lacks basic infrastructure facilities, including vitally needed cold storage after a lapse of more than one year.

During the shifting of the market, the traders had strongly resisted the move on the ground of non-availability of basic facilities vital for their business. However, traders agreed to shift their shops to the new place as the authorities had assured them to provide facilities.

The market committee, formed to deal with the allotment issues, had allotted 10 acres in the market for construction of cold storage. Of which one acre was earmarked for private sector for construction of four large sized cold storages and half an acre for building more than cold storages to freeze unsold fruits and vegetable.

Traders complained that despite passage of more than one year, the market committee had failed to provide electricity to the parties for construction of remaining eight cold storage. Even four ready cold stores are operating without electricity via generators.

Traders told the agency that by virtue of high petroleum charges use of generators was not economical which ultimately increases expenses that affected prices mechanism.—PPI