Due to closure of the Mandi, the supply of fruit and vegetables to city markets was also suspended throughout the day, from early in the morning to 7pm.
Traders estimate a single day loss of Rs250-350 million on account of the strike, as all transactions, including supply of goods to the city, arrival of goods from up-country and exports to foreign countries, were suspended. The 25,000-30,000 wage-earners who work at Sabzi Mandi, however, may have lost the most, as they were unable to earn their daily income on Friday. A wage-earner involved in loading and unloading of 20-120 kg bags earns Rs5-15 per bag. In a single day, a worker manages to earn Rs200-300.
The city markets faced no shortage of any items due to the strike, as retailers had procured the required commodities a few days back. Besides, many fruit and vegetables have a long shelf life. Consumers could not purchase fresh greens, particularly of the highly perishable variety, on Friday, however.
Many retailers fully cashed in on the situation by charging an additional Rs5-10 per kg on various items, citing the closure of the market to consumers as the reason for the increase, despite the fact that most shop-owners picked up their supplies from Sabzi Mandi in the preceding days.
President Falahi Anjuman Wholesale Vegetable Market (FAWVM) Haji Shahjehan said that the loading of fruit and vegetables destined for foreign countries also came to a halt, as the majority of the exporters supported the strike.
He said that of the 700-800 trucks which arrive at Sabzi Mandi everyday, only 150-200 arrived on Friday, and that too due to miscommunication. He said no commodities had been offloaded from the trucks at the wholesale market.
He said that wholesalers remain firm in their stance to go on an indefinite strike from Jan 25 if the authorities and the police fail to show that they have curbed lawlessness from Sohrab Goth to the Mandi.
Mr Shahjehan further said that the wage-earners at Sabzi Mandi had fully supported the strike.
He said the in-charge of a police picket inside the Mandi had been changed on the demand of traders. He added that the police had increased the number of officers at the site, and provided two more mobile vans for increased patrolling, aimed at curbing illegal activities in and outside the Mandi.
With the market deserted, many of the workers’ children enjoyed playing cricket inside the Sabzi Mandi area.
A number of workers and shop owners also held a protest demonstration inside and at the main gate of the Mandi against the increasing incidence of crime in the wholesale market. They took a round of the entire Mandi with banners in their hands, and chanted slogans against “rising corruption in the market committee” and the “negligence” of said committee in offering utility services to the entire market.
Chairman of the Karachi Wholesale Fresh Fruits Merchants and Commission Agents Association (KWFFMCAA) Mohammad Zahid Awan said that both owners and workers jointly addressed those gathered on the occasion. He added that not only are shop owners facing issues because of the rising crime rate, but customers arriving from the city, workers, labourers and even commission agents are going through the same ordeal.
He said that around 15-20 workers, owners, customers and commission agents were looted everyday by armed men on the service road from Sohrab Goth to Sabzi Mandi, and also within the Mandi premises.
Mr Awan said shop owners are extremely worried after receiving slips of paper with the cellphone numbers and names of criminals. The slips demand that large amounts of money be paid to the criminals, warning of kidnapping or killing if that demand is not met.
Mr Awan asserted that the affairs of the Mandi fall under the Sindh agriculture department, but so far neither the minister nor any other official had called or taken notice of the grievances of the traders and labourers. The market committee collects a fee ranging between Rs250 and Rs300 per truck arriving from up-country, which adds up to about Rs200,000-250,000 per day. The committee is bound to provide water, power, gas and sewerage, but Mr Awan said these facilities simply do not exist.
He added that the agriculture minister had promised to resolve the issue of market committee “negligence” three months ago, but so far nothing had been done. He asserted that corruption in the committee was on the rise, and that officials were given top posts by offering bribes. He further alleged that officials then mint money after taking over their posts.
Mr Awan said traders and labourers feel very insecure, and consider the police’s attitude to controlling crime in the area lacking in devotion.