KARACHI, Sept 1: Almost all the 90 markets of the city district government — over a dozen of them situated on storm-water drains — have been lying in a deplorable condition for a long time owing to the lack of repair and maintenance work.
The absence of basic necessities such as toilets, drinking water facilities, regular sweeping and a garbage disposal system has become a major problem not only for the shopkeepers but also for the shoppers.
In all, there are around 90 markets set up in different parts of the city with over 13,000 shops, yet the CDGK’s estate and works and services departments, which are responsible for their upkeep, seem least interested in undertaking maintenance on a regular basis and in providing basic necessities.
A visit to any one of the CDGK markets would show garbage littered in and around the markets. Moreover, the menace of encroachments around most of these markets and the illegal setting up of cabins in their vicinity has not only become a nuisance for the shopkeepers and shoppers, but was also creating a hindrance in the smooth flow of vehicular traffic.
The CDGK’s market located near the Cantonment Railway Station has been literarily turned into a rest-house, where one can see a large number of charpoys which are rented out to those visiting the city.
Expressing concern over the poor condition of the CDGK markets, Chairman of the All-Pakistan Small Shopkeepers’ Federation (APSSF) S.M. Tauqeer deplored the fact that although the rent of the markets’ shops has been increased by 100 per cent during the last eight years, no attention was being paid towards their maintenance.
‘No repair work for 30 years’
He alleged that although no repair and maintenance works had been carried in most of the markets for the last 30 years, the relevant department’s documents would show that a huge amount had been incurred under this head.
However, the CDGK’s Estate Department’s District Officer Zubair Mughal claimed that of the approximately Rs110 million which the department collected annually under the head of rent of shops of the CDGK markets, almost 50 per cent of the amount was spent on the repair and maintenance of the markets and about 50 per cent was consumed by the salary of the department’s officials.
Asked if it is true that a heavy amount was shown under the head of repair and maintenance works of the markets in official documents whereas a negligible amount was being used, he said that he could not say anything in this regard because the task of awarding contracts of repair and maintenance work was undertaken and supervised by the works and services department.
The APSSF chairman also spoke about the prevailing filthy environment around such markets, saying that though the federation had repeatedly urged the CDGK officers concerned to ensure cleanliness in and around markets, introduce a proper garbage disposal system and provide toilets and drinking water facilities, all such requests had, so far, remained unheeded.
Besides, he claimed, the trend of legalising cabins which have sprung up on the pavements of Urdu Bazaar, Sobhraj Maternity Hospital, Liaquatabad, Hayderi Market and Karimabad’s Meena and Faisal Bazaars, had added to the problems of those visiting these markets.
He added that women shoppers were the worst-affected as incidence of eve-teasing and purse and mobile snatching had increased at such markets, particularly during rush hours.