The city was paralysed on Sunday after industrialists, textile exporters and traders observed a shutter-down strike against massive power outages, hike in the price of petroleum products and what they termed were the government's anti-industrial policies.
Interestingly, the historic Clock Tower, centred around eight major markets of the city, was completely draped in black to protest against what traders termed against discriminatory gas and electricity load shedding in Faisalabad.
Black flags flew on buildings and black banners dotted roads across the city, including the ones on Sheikhupura Road, Sargodha Road, Jhang Road, Samundri Road, Satiana Road and Jaranwala Road.
The city is the country's textile hub and it also serves as a nexus for industry and businesses in Punjab. Banners bore slogans against power cuts and appeals for saving domestic industry.
Businessmen, traders, transporters and rickshaw and wagon owners flew black flags on their vehicles which participated in processions, making rounds in major markets and the surrounding areas to protest against unbearable high cost of living, frequent and irregular electricity outages and gas shortage.
Textile exporters, wearing black dresses, took out protest processions and burnt tyres at Amtex Chowk, Abdullahpur-Jaranwala Road and chanted slogans against hat they viewed as the economic and industrial massacre of Punjab and textile industry.
A large rally, comprising industrialists, traders, transporters and businessmen, staged a protest demonstration at Chowk Ghanta Ghar against severe load-shedding. They said that the federal government's discriminatory attitude was plunging the country's industry into total disarray.
The demonstrations were addressed by Chairman of the Pakistan Textile Exporters Association Rana Arif Tauseef, Vice-Chairman Qamar Aftab, Chief Co-ordinator of the Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers and Exporters Association (North Zone) Chaudhry Salamat Ali, former chairman of the All Pakistan Cotton Powerlooms Association Rana Ikhlaq Ahmad and other leaders of the All-Punjab Textile Associations Council.
They said that massive power cuts had devastated the country's industrial and business sectors, adding that the energy crisis had seriously hurt Punjab.
Criticising some clauses of 18th Amendment which restricted broad distribution of natural resources, they said that this discrepancy could be removed in 20th amendment, adding that legislators showed little interest in this regard.
Reiterating the demand for doing away the injustices against Punjab in the distribution of natural resources in 21st constitutional amendment, they said that the textile sector, which was a major source of earning foreign exchange, was being pushed towards complete closure under a well thought out conspiracy.
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