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75-80 percent vegetable supply affected by rain

KARACHI: Vegetable and fruit supply to Karachi from interior Sindh and Balochistan during the last few days has plunged sharply in the range of 75 to 80 percent in the wake of widespread and disastrous rain, which has lashed both the provinces since Friday.

Normally some 14 to 15 tonnes of fruit and vegetables daily arrive at Karachi Sabzi Mandi through 700 to 800 trucks via superhighway from Sindh and Balochistan. Estimated trade of these bulk arrival ranges from Rs 180 to 200 million providing livelihood to thousands of people in the process.

Widespread devastation caused by rain, which lashed Sindh and Balochistan since Friday, has caused extensive damage to the fragile road network in both provinces creating hindrance towards smooth transportation of fruit and vegetable to Karachi.

Majority of vegetables and fruits are transported to Karachi from Sanghar, Thatta, Tando Allahyar, Badin, Gadap to cater requirement of more than 15 million population of largest city of the country.

Consequently, shortage of vegetables in the largest Sabzi Mandi of the country has pushed across the board rates of all kinds of vegetables. One of the major reasons of sharp increase in vegetable rates was attributed by leading traders and businessman on account of inundation of the whole Sabzi Mandi by the rain water making the smooth working a difficult task for next 3 to 4 days at least.

“It has increasingly become difficult to unload vegetable and fruit in the Mandi following Friday and Saturday’s heavy rain which has turned the Mandi into a pond virtually making it impossible for smooth entry of heavy trucks and trawlers which have managed to reach the city despite adverse situation,” said Haji Shahjahan, President Wholesale Vegetable Welfare Association Sabzi Mandi replying to a query of the scribe. He claimed that in the wake of short supply of vegetable, their rates have started surging from Saturday and in case of additional rain, they may further go up during the current week. tanveer sher

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