Industrials and associations making arrangements to keep their units running on April 2, 2005. They have decided not to take part in Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) strike and to keep their units running to meet the challenges of WTO. Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Acting President Abdul Majid Haji Mohammed, Site Association of Industry (SAI) Chairman Dr Mirza Ikhtiar Baig, Council of Karachi's Industrial Association (CKIA) Chairman Akbar Faruqui and Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI) chairman Abdul Haseeb Khan recanted the strike call and advised the leaders of opposition parties to agitate their issues in national and provincial assemblies.
Presidents and Chairmen of KCCI, CKIA, SIA and KATI have advised the members to keep their units open on April 2. These trade bodies and associations announced their offices would remain open on April 2, and they were contacting government and security agencies to provide protection and keep the transport running. A number of companies also have arranged private vehicles to provide transport facility to bring necessary staff to keep the units in operation.
The industrialists were of the view that such strikes would not be benefiting at all but would rather add the sufferings of the general public. They said after long period once again a number of foreign investors were looking towards Pakistan to invest in the country but such move would discourage them.
In the past such activities had also caused incalculable and irreparable loss to the economy. They pointed out that resorting to strikes and closures was counterproductive that would further affect the daily wage earners who would be deprived of their meager earnings on that particular day. The lower income and the unskilled workers were already under the yokes of rising prices, unemployment, and disenchantment. Any further load on them would be disastrous and would negatively aggravate the worker's financial resources.