LAHORE:Punjab Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani has stated that the vegetable market being built in Ravi City will be the best in Asia.
The access routes to this market will also serve as a prime example of high-quality infrastructure, he said, adding Metro and Speedo bus routes would be extended to the market to facilitate labourers and vendors and the project would soon be inaugurated by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.
He expressed these views during a ceremony held to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ravi Urban Development Authority (RUDA) and the Punjab Agriculture Marketing Regulatory Authority (PAMRA). The MoU was signed by Tariq Basra, Director General of PAMRA, and Imran Amin, CEO of RUDA, on behalf of their respective organisations.
The minister mentioned that, in the future, this vegetable market would become an export hub for the region. He emphasised that the farming and cold storage of vegetables like tomatoes and onions, which are often in short supply, would be improved to ensure these items were available to the general public at affordable prices throughout the year.
During the briefing, Imran Amin, the RUDA CEO, explained that the vegetable market, spread over 300 acres, will have direct access from all sides. Trucks and vehicles will be able to enter the market directly from GT Road, Gujranwala, and the Sialkot-Lahore Motorway. The market was expected to be completed within 18 months, and the infrastructure will be of international standards.
The market will also feature an export zone for fruits and vegetables, modern cold storage facilities, warehouses, commission agent shops, petrol pumps, and an extensive parking system, he said and maintained that the cleanliness of the market will be managed by RUDA, while the operational system will be overseen by PAMRA.
During the briefing, PAMRA DG Tariq Basra mentioned that discussions were under way with commission agents regarding the relocation of the Badami Bagh vegetable market. Currently, 50% of them have agreed to move to the new Kala Khatai vegetable market, and the remaining would soon be persuaded.