Business activities resumed in industrial city, here on Monday, after three days shutter down strike, however, police have registered cases against 350 protestors for damaging and looting public and official property, burning motorcycles and other articles etc during protestation.
Meanwhile, industrialists, traders, exporters and Civil Society members have expressed grave concern over the massive load shedding (18-20 hours) of electricity and fresh increase in electricity bills, which is yielding negative impact over the national economy and creating joblessness and lawlessness.
Talking to newsmen, Chaudhry Salamat Ali, Chief Co-ordinator and ex-Chairman, Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers and Exporters Association (North Zone) said that the government had been failed to fulfil their commitments with the business community. Massive load shedding of electricity is continuing in whole Punjab, while bills of electricity are increasing day by day, which is hurting the industrial investment of billion dollars, he added.
He demanded that government should ended unscheduled load shedding of electricity immediately and increasing rates should also withdrawal in the best interest of the country. A large number of powerloom workers joined the protests and blocked traffic by burning tyres on the Jhang road and Sidhar. The protesters mentioned that the power shutdown in different areas had made it impossible for them to earn their livelihoods. Long power outages have affected water supply to the area.
In Chiniot, Toba Tek Singh, Jhang, Sumandri, Tandilianwala, Jaranwala, and Kamalia, the demonstrators chanted slogans against the PPP government and said that leaders had failed in providing relief to people. Urban areas are facing at least 18-20 hours of power outages a day while 22 hours of load shedding is taking place in rural areas. The misery of citizens increases when power remains shut due to technical faults, adding to the overall poor situation. However, police managed to disperse protesters after peaceful negotiations.
Meanwhile, traders and people of industrial city from all walks of life have expressed disappointment over the Federal Budget 2012-13, saying no relief has been given to the business community and the common man, while load shedding is a gift of corrupt government.
Muhammad Aslam Wafa, labour leader said that the industrial workers deplored the incumbent government for giving a poor budget, saying the budget is neither people-friendly nor business-friendly. Khwaja Shahid Razzaq Sikka, President, Anjuman-e-Tajran said that the budget is a drama, which was being staged every year. The budget 2012-13 has again failed to fulfil the promises the PPP government had been making since it came in power for providing relief to the general public by reducing price hike and indirect taxes.
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