Land mafia has become active to clandestinely grab control of new Sabzi Mandi market committee. The perpetrators, right now are engaged in endeavours to block the induction of genuine representatives of traders and farmers who are the real stakeholders.
Outside elements who are involved in land encroachment in Sabzi Mandi are making all out efforts to sabotage Provincial Ministry of Agriculture's move to form the market committee comprising those who are actually engaged in business. According to a source in the Ministry of Agriculture, these elements are putting all their energies in exercising their influence to ensure that people who are involved in electricity theft, land grabbing and other illegal activities could become members of the committee.
Traders of Sabzi Mandi have appealed Provincial Ministry of Agriculture not to accept pressure of these elements and immediate steps should be taken to form market committee. This would not only resolve the issues facing traders but would also help the government to generate revenue. Market sources said that a 17-member market committee had been proposed whose members are well known traders and some of them are working since the time Pakistan came into being. However, land grabbers and vested interests are engaged in derailing the process of formation of the committee which would be inducted for the first time since the market was established12 years ago.
Proposed Committee would include independent and genuine traders who have in mind unique action plan including computerisation of revenue collection, cut down tax aversion, installation of security cameras for maximum security, regain possession of shops, land and property from land grabbers and registration of shops by the real and genuine owners of shops. Since such an action plan will be a severe blow to the illegal activities of culprits who have been involved in snatching and occupying properties through fraudulent means.
These elements had also tried to raise unnecessary questions in the meeting presided over by the acting Minister of Agriculture on Monday last. Representatives of proposed committee had appreciated the role of government in forming the committee so that basic facilities could be provided to streamline the functioning of the market. Committee representatives said acting Minister of Agriculture, Sindh Agha Jan Akhtar is very much interested to run the market properly and eager to work for its development and construction and is keen to hand over responsibilities to traders which is a laudable act. This is one of the main reasons why vested interests are working to sabotage the whole process of formation of market committee.
In the meeting the committee members in consultation with all the stakeholders also appreciated the role of Secretary Agriculture Sindh Agha Jan Akhtar and Deputy Secretary Abrar Sheikh who hold prerogative rights to form the committee but despite this privilege he is taking action after the consultation with the stakeholders. Acting minister has also rejected the impression that he cancelled his visit of Sabzi Mandi twice on the pressure of some people. He made it clear that his visit was cancelled due to some official meetings. Meeting also condemned propaganda campaign launched by unrelated persons against Provincial Secretary Agriculture Agha Jan Akhatar.
Acting Minister said it was for the first time that traders had got the opportunity to form a market committee without the influence of political parties. Traders should work together to nominate their best people and all the members will be appointed on merit, he assured.
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