Hardly 50 percent units function: industry suffers Rs 350 million to Rs 400 million loss on account of strike

Strikes against extortion of money and target killing has partly paralyzed industrial and business activities in Karachi on Wednesday, causing huge production and export losses. The strike call was given by Karachi Traders Association backed by MQM, Jamiate Ulema -e-Islam, Sunni Tehrik and Transports Ittehand Association.
Almost 50 percent industrial units in the city were not able to operate on Wednesday because of thin attendance. The public transport such as goods carriers stayed off from the roads because of fear of incidents of arson and torching of public and private vehicles. The all markets and commercial centers also remained closed.
All economic and social activities remain paralysed for the whole day. The industrial zone had to suffer a loss of Rs 350 million to Rs 400 million on account of the strike. Some shopkeepers in commercial centers and markets started opening their shops after 4pm, but traders believed that only 20 to 25 per cent shops opened. The worst affected were industrial estates includes Federal B area, Korangi, SITE, Site Super Highway and North Karachi where worker turnout was low due to lack of public transport, which caused massive production losses.
Chairman of the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (Kati), Ehtishamuddin said industrialists suffered huge losses because there were no goods carriers and shipments could not be made. He said in Korangi industries 4 to 5 million employees worked around 4,500 industries in which out of 50 per cent did not turn up due to non-availability of transport and fear of violence. He said after 11 am some public transports were seen on the roads.
He hoped that more workers of second shift may report on duty which may improve production activities. Chairman, Federal Bee Area Association of Trade and Industry (FBAATI), Masroor Alvi said that almost 50 percent industrial units operated in this industrial estate but due to strike the attendance in industrial units were around 40 to 50 percent. However no shipment has been made due to non-availability of trailers and containers, he added.
He said that the markets in the vicinity of this indusial estate remain completely closed. Meanwhile, industry leaders have urged government to look into law and order situation, target killing and extortion of money issues and adopt appropriate measures to prove conducive environment for business, treading and industrial activities. Acting Chairman, Site Association of Industries (SAI), Asad Nisar Barkhurdaria said that due to the strike production of industries in S.I.T.E Area suffered.
He said that about 70 percent of the industries remained operational while 30 percent units were closed due to thin attendance of workers, who could not turn up due to the strike supported by the transporters and political forces of the city. He said the current crisis of law and order in the city, which is financial capital of Pakistan, is not supportive for industrial activities. Due to such strike calls the export orders are suffered badly. He said that threats being given to industrialists on telephones and demanding Bhatta from them was highly deplorable and should be stopped at all cost.