Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has unveiled plans for a new vegetable and fruit market in Lahore's Kala Khatai area, aiming to create Asia’s leading market for agricultural produce. The announcement was made on Sunday, with the project scheduled for completion within 18 months.

According to Zameen.Com, the development follows a memorandum of understanding signed between the Ravi Urban Development Authority (RUDA) and the Punjab Agriculture Marketing Regulatory Authority (PAMRA). Chief Minister Nawaz has tasked the authorities with developing the market on a 300-acre site, equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, including enhanced access points for trucks and vehicles from major highways such as GT Road Gujranwala and the Lahore-Sialkot Motorway.

The market is also expected to function as an export hub, potentially increasing its global market reach. Additional plans for the market include the extension of metro and speedo bus routes to support the daily commute of laborers and shopkeepers and the construction of a cold storage facility to ensure the continuous supply and affordability of key vegetables throughout the year.