Illegal Bachat bazaars stay despite KMC warnings, notices

KARACHI: Contrary to 'strict warnings' issued by Administrator Karachi against illegal Bachat Bazaars operating in the city, the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation has failed to take any action against such makeshift markets despite the lapse of 30 days.

It is learnt that various Bachat bazaars are being operated in public parks, playgrounds and streets in different areas on weekly basis under patronage of officers from Enterprise & Investment Promotion (E&IP) department of KMC, who allow these makeshift markets to operate on payment of bribes. Sources told that such officers were causing a loss of over 50% percent revenues generated by such bazaars to the department as it is purportedly embezzled.

According to a senior KMC official, a total of 77 Bachat bazaars are presently held every week in Karachi out of which 9 in district Central, 30 in district West, 36 in district East and 9 in district Malir on different days of the week. The purpose of a Bachat bazaar is to provide relief to common men providing easy access to all essential commodities under a single roof with temporary arrangements.

Currently illegal Bachat Bazaars are being run in Gulshan Iqbal, Gulberg, Liaqatabad, Shah Faisal, Jamshed town areas, North Karachi and in many other localities of the city reportedly under the patronage of EIP department officials.

Sources told that the EIP department had allowed the private organizers of 90 Bachat bazaars to acquire land at a rate of Rs.3 per square yard. A small bachat bazaar is about 1000 square yards covered by 20 tents measuring 15-30 feet while a big Bachat bazaar uses at least 150 tents.

Source claimed the list of Bachat Bazaars provided to KMC Municipal Commissioner was bogus and did not contain the names of all such markets operating in each area.

Meanwhile, Administrator KMC Muhammad Hussain Syed issued directives on March 1 to E & IP Department to take immediate action against the illegal and defaulter Bachat bazaars being organized within the jurisdiction of KMC.

He had directed organizers of Bachat bazaars to contact the office of E&IP Department at Civic Centre within seven days so that their documents could be verified, otherwise all such bazaars would be closed down in case of non-compliance of KMC directives. Besides, he also warned all stall holders and those people who provide the decoration and lighting for illegal Bachat bazaars to refrain from such practice or prepare to face action.

According to KMC spokesman, E & IP Department has now taken special measures to bring the holding of weekly Bachat bazaars in the city under the rules and regulations so that the recovery of revenue condition in the department could improve and the people could be saved from any inconvenience due to the holding of illegal Bachat bazaars.

He said Senior Director E&IP Shoaib Waqar had also directed all the organizers of Bachat bazaars to contact with the department without delay along with the documents or they will have to face legal action under the rules and regulations.