LAHORE: A high level committee constituted by Caretaker Chief Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi has recommended to the government to shift the Badami Bagh Vegetable and Fruit Market outside the city for now before shifting the other markets (if required).

However, the government is yet to make a decision on this recommendation since it plans to shift vegetable, fish and rim markets besides establishing a state-of-the-art slaughter house at the land controlled by the Ravi Urban Development Authority (Ruda), Dawn has learnt.

The committee, headed by the agriculture department secretary and comprising housing, urban development and public health and finance departments’ secretaries, Lahore commissioner and chief executive officers (CEOs) of Ruda and the Punjab Agriculture Marketing Regulatory Authority, was assigned with the task around 15 days ago to review the design prepared by Nespak in association with Ruda in a bid to shift these markets. The plan to shift the markets was made since they are causing nuisance and various issues related to environment, cleanliness and rainwater drainage and traffic etc in the city district.

“The caretaker CM, in the meeting, was of the view that some markets, especially the vegetable & fruit market (Badami Bagh) and fish market (Lohari gate), must be shifted outside the city. He also wants to establish the state-of-the-art slaughterhouse outside the city in the area nearby the aforementioned markets. Since Ruda and Nespak have already made a design for this mega plan, he (the CM) constituted the committee, led by the secretary (agriculture), to review the design and give some viable recommendations,” a senior government official privy to the development explained while talking to Dawn.

Committee suggests making the move in a phased manner; caretaker CM keen to move vegetable, fish markets out of city

He said, after going through the design, the committee reached a consensus to recommend shifting of the vegetable market for now and shift other markets under a phased manner at later stages.

“This recommendation (relocation of the vegetable market) is the best in terms of the current needs,” the officer added, requesting not be named.

Another senior official told Dawn that since the committee had already given its recommendations, the final decision—whether to shift vegetable market alone or shift it along others–would be taken by the CM.

“The committee was tasked with reviewing the design of the new fruit and vegetable market by Ruda which we have done. Now Ruda is processing the case for the cabinet approval and hopefully the whole process will be completed within two weeks,” he maintained. When asked whether or not the vegetable market would be relocated for now, the officer replied: “It is to be decided by the CM”.

It merits mention that the government had earlier allowed the Lahore administration to relocate three markets outside the city, preferably to the controlled area of Ruda. In a meeting held around 10 days before, it was unanimously decided to engage all stakeholders for a smooth shifting of these major markets from the city to the periphery. The proposed location of the land to be allocated for this purpose was kept confidential to prevent landowners from increasing the price of the land.

Under the plan, the Badami Bagh market would be relocated to the project area of Ruda on 300 acres. The new mandi would be equipped with all facilities related to infrastructure and services.

During the meeting, the Ruda authorities had pledged reportedly to build the infrastructure and hand it over to the government within few months, subject to the availability of funds and other support from the government and various stakeholders.

According to the proposal, the management of the vegetable and fish markets would be in the hands of the Punjab Agriculture Market Regulatory Authority and the Industries Department while Ruda may construct cold storages and other facilities under a public-private partnership or under a revenue-sharing model.

The official sources believe that if vegetable and fish markets are shifted outside the city, the total business volume may increase to Rs100bn from Rs50bn per annum.

Published in Dawn, August 15th, 2023