ISLAMABAD: With multiple chronic problems, the fruit and vegetable markets of the federal capital have a plethora of problems besides gradually turning into a health hazardous place. Pollutant and filthy environment with numerous problems in and around the market is seeking prompt attention of the civic body in order to ensure provision of safe and healthy food items to the residents. Currently, rotten fruits and vegetables are thrown on ground causing bad odour. Mushtaq Ahmed who is a vendor at the market told that there is no proper waste management system that is making environment unhygienic. Federal capital Fruit and Vegetable Market Patron-in-Chief Muhammad Arshad said that waste garbage and disgusting odour welcome customers at the market whereas encroachments and illegal stalls in the premises have further worsened the situation. Arshad further said that the legal stallholders had to pay a lot more though there are numerous illegal stalls. He demanded the authorities to take action against the responsible official. Fruit Mandi Traders Welfare Association president said that this is one of the leading fruit and vegetable market but there is no proper mechanism to look after the venue. A customer Azam Khan said, “the encroachers have made things difficult by extending their shops and stalls on footpaths meant for pedestrians”. Mohsin Khan who is a shopkeeper said that market deals in both retail and wholesale and customers come in large numbers even from remote areas but there is no drinking water in the market. Khan said that the development funds should be spent in all the sectors without any discrimination. Fruit and vegetable sellers pay a huge amount in the name of taxes,” he added. Another fruit and vegetable merchant Naseer Abbasi said that no attention has been paid to resolve problems. Whenever it rains, we have to face a tough time, he added. He further said that there is no proper shelter and we use polythene sheets to cover fruit and vegetable stock. The roads adjacent to this market are in pathetic condition as the market accommodates heavy traffic for goods transport, said a truck driver Abdul Razaq who brings vegetables to the market from Haripur district. Roads require urgent attention of the authorities to avoid their further deterioration, he added. Another driver Rafeeq also complained for insufficient parking area for the vehicles and asked for the availability of secure and reserved parking for the goods transporters and visitors who come to shop in the market. A customer in the market Saqib Kiani complained for the absence of official price lists in the market as the shopkeepers are charging the prices set by themselves in accordance with their own will. A senior CDA official seeking anonymity said that the civic body had deployed an officer at ‘Sabzi Mandi’ to keep an eye on affairs of the market. He pointed out that the fruit and vegetable market is situated at such a place where cleanliness cannot be maintained round the clock. The roads of the capital are being carpeted and rehabilitated, he added. The official said all the administrative issues of the market like security fall under the jurisdiction of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).