KANDAHAR CITY: Construction work on a fruit market — a joint venture of the municipality and traders — has been launched in the southern province of Kandahar, officials said here the other day.
The fruit market is being constructed over a 7.5 acres of land in Kandahar City, the provincial capital, at a cost of nearly $8 million.
Traders would contribute75 percent to the total cost and the municipality 25 percent, said Zamarai Sargand, the municipality spokesman.
He told Pajhwok Afghan News the market would have 350 shops, 80 washrooms, a 17-metre long hall for fruit sales, a parking lot and other allied facilities.
An orchard owner in Zheri district, Haji Abdul Qayum, happy over the project, said it would enable orchard owners to sell their fruits in-time and export to other countries from the same venue.
A fruit trader, Haji Naimatullah, said they faced problems in packing and storing fruits, but these problems would be resolve with construction of the market, which would standardize their trade.
He said fruit production would enhance in Kandahar, Helmand, Uruzgan and Zabul provinces with the market where marketing facilities would be available for traders.
