Members of Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers Association, Anjuman-e-Tajran, Faisalabad, All Pakistan Textile Processing Mills Association and labour leaders jointly took the streets blocked Canal Road and demonstrated in front of Fesco against load shedding that has badly affected production, exports and other business activities.
Industrialists, traders and businessmen of Faisalabad gathered outside Fesco head office on Saturday blocked traffic on Canal Road as a mark of protest against uninterrupted load shedding.
Protestors chanted slogans against Fesco and Wapda, who they said were responsible for seizing the industrialisation in the country. They demanded indiscriminate supply of electricity to the industrialists of Faisalabad and include B-3 and B-4 in the load shedding schedule.
The Chairman Standing Committee on Powerlooms Industry, Waheed Khaliq Ramey and Ancillaries of Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry told newsmen that power outages was hampering trade activities and production of industrial sector especially, weaving industries in the industrial city.
Most of the Powerloom owners are not in position even to pay salaries to their labourers then how can they run their industrial units in high cost and in an unfavourable atmosphere, he questioned. The President, Anjuman-e-Tajran City Faisalabad, Khuwaja Shahid Razzaq Sikka announced that if demands are not met with immediate effect, traders and industrialists would again hold protest march against Fesco on Monday.
Mirza Shafique Ahmad, Chairman, ALL Pakistan Sizing Industries Association, Mian Rehan Ul Haq, President, Faisalabad Kissan Board, Shahid Ahmad Sheikh, Sheikh Abdul Qayyum, Mina Shabbir Ahmad, Mian Aftab Ahmad, Sheikh Niaz Ahmad and traders also participated in the protest.
Earlier, in a meeting of Load Management Advisory Committee of Fesco, Ahmad Saeed Akhtar and Chief Executive Officers have assured the committee members that unannounced load shedding would be eliminated within weeks.
However, nothing worked and the situation worsened during the last five days due to gas pipeline blast. Subsequently, it was brought under control and pipeline connected with the powerhouses has been repaired completely. Further, Akhtar said the power situation would improve soon.
He said daytime saving measures have helped saving 500mw of power, while multiple measures are being taken to enhance power production. Every available resource is being explored including solar, wind, hydal, coal and thermal.
The Chairman, Pakistan Hosiery Manufactures Association (PHMA) North Zone, Muhammd Javed Aslam pointed out that electricity outages were hampering business and production of industrial sector. Textile exporters claimed that the power outage coupled with unfair atmosphere has caused default of export consignments with apprehensions of thousands of dollars in claims over-delayed.
Similarly, Secretary, All Pakistan Textile Processing Mills Association, Faisalabad Zone, Muhammad Ashraf said that unscheduled load shedding was affecting the performance of the boilers in printing and processing mills.
Meanwhile, Industrial workers, and civil society members staged a demonstration in Faizabad, Lakkar Mandi and Liaqatabad to protest against the price hike of essential commodities, increase in power tariff , withdrawal of subsidy on electricity and gas bills, levy of 16 percent sales tax and increasing the duration of power load shedding.
Labour leaders participating I the protest rally wore bread garlands on bear body shouted slogans against the Government for increasing the inflation, price hike of essential commodities. Labour leaders demanded to end load shedding to save their livelihoods.
They demanded that the Government should take special measures to provide electricity to the industrial sector, prevent day to day closure of various industries thus saving the workers from the regular ordeal.
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