Persistent long hours of unscheduled load-shedding of electricity has paralysed trade, business and industrial activities in the industrial city, resultantly, every person especially small traders are deeply anguished. Christians also faced hardship due to the load-shedding on the occasion of Easter on Sunday.
Talking to newsmen, Choudary Salamat Ali, Chairman, Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers & Exporters Association (PHMA) North Zone said that value-added textile industry is suffering multiple losses during massive load-shedding, resultantly, industrialists are facing huge losses in the severe curtailment of industrial production, while daily wagers are losing their livelihood.
He said that the industrial activities are already frozen because of mismanagement, dispute between Pakistan Electric Power Company (Pepco) and petroleum suppliers and unfriendly course of action of the present regime. He also said that worst gas shortage of seven months and day by day growing shortfall of electricity are adding fuel to fire. Unemployment is increasing day by day and industrial investment is sinking due to unfavourable textile and power policy, he added. He disclosed that textile associations have called a joint meeting on Monday to review the on-going worst ever situation of load-shedding and announced next line of action.
PHMA chairman demanded that decision of gas load-shedding should be taken back immediately and gas should be supplied to the industries for at-least six days. He warned that as natural consequence of long gas load shedding, industrials and labour force would be completed to come on roads to protest.
Khuwaja Shahid Razzaq Sikka, President, Anjuman-e-Tajran said that the existent threats of electricity load-shedding, high mark-up rates, high inflation rates, and ever deteriorating law and order situation are not enough for the trade and industry. Talking to newsmen, he said that the new threat of 18-hour long load-shedding of electricity will cripple the industry altogether unless immediate action is taken by the government to resolve this very critical issue.
Meanwhile, SNGPL have announced fresh forthcoming gas schedule for three days, which will be implemented from April 27, 2011.
At various places peoples took out protest procession against the 18-hour load-shedding of electricity. Power-looms owners and workers took out protest procession against Faisalabad Electric Power Company and Pepco authorities and shouted slogans against the government.
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