ISLAMABAD: The huge heaps of garbage in the fruit and vegetable market of Islamabad is irking the buyers.
During a survey conducted by the state-owned news agency, a buyer said that the departments concerned responsible for cleanliness, security, parking and price control are not fulfilling their responsibilities. The entire market spread over almost a sector is filled with garbage, and rotten vegetables and fruits making it a very hard for buyers to stay for a while. A number of employees have been hired to maintain cleanliness but they are hardly seen carrying out their duties.
Footpaths along the roads have been occupied by the stall holders while most of the shopkeepers have extended their shops and displayed different food items on the footpaths, said Mazhar Abbas who visits this market twice a week to purchase fruits and vegetables.
Another buyer, Ishaq Khan complained that several fruit and vegetable sellers wash their products with polluted water without any check. While no price list is displayed by the vendors and they charge price of fruits and vegetables at their own. Brawls between sellers and purchasers are a routine matter, he added.
About security arrangements, the district administration has time and again directed the in-charge police post to ensure foolproof arrangements by installing walkthrough gates for the security of people. However, one or two cops are deployed and they too disappear after the busy morning session.
The district administration and CDA officials said that they are striving hard to further improve security and cleanliness conditions at the fruit & vegetable market. They said that sufficient sanitary and security staff has been deployed to ensure cleanliness and security.
