ISLAMABAD  - The polluted environment and unhygienic conditions in the federal capital’s only fruit and vegetable market in I-11 Sector, commonly known as Sabzi Mandi, are causing environmental and health problems for both the buyers and the sellers.
A visit to the Sabzi Mandi on Sunday transpired apathy of departments concerned responsible for cleanliness, security, parking and price control.
The whole market, which is almost spread over the sector, is filled with garbage, rotten vegetables and fruits emitting odour.
“There is no proper mechanism for keeping the market clean despite the civic authority has hired a number of employees for the purpose,” said Mazhar Abbass, who visits the market twice a week to purchase fruits and vegetables.
He said stall and pushcart holders have even occupied the main road causing problems for both the motorists and the pedestrians. The officials of the department concerned take no pains to remove them, he added.
Rains further multiply the problems as it becomes impossible for the consumers to move because of mud and garbage. 
Brawls between the sellers and the purchasers are a routine matter, he added.
About security arrangements, the District Administration has time and again instructed the in-charge police post to ensure foolproof arrangements by installing walkthrough gates for the security of people. However, one or two policemen are deployed for a few days and they too disappear when the dust is settled.
“I have not seen even a single policeman deployed for the security although a police station has been set up at the corner of Sabzi Mandi,” Ejaz-ul-Haq, a resident of nearby I-10 Sector pointed out.    
Jahangir Khan, a vendor informed APP that there was no entry schedule of trucks and other vehicles to unload their goods in the Sabzi Mandi.
These trucks can enter at any time causing traffic problems for the people, he added.
A large number of unauthorised kiosks and repairing shops have been set up around the market. Some of them have been built in the green belt located between Sabzi Mandi and I-10 Sector.
People were of the view that the authorities concerned should seriously look into state of the affairs and resolve all the problems on priority basis. 
When contacted, the District Administration and CDA officials said that they were striving hard to improve security and cleanliness conditions at the market.