Leader of business community and former president of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) S.M. Munir has urged the Governor Sindh, Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan to arrange business community meeting with President of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf to discuss security issue in industrial areas and payment of compensation to those who suffered losses in recent disturbances in the city.
Addressing a joint press conference with chairmen of Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (Kati), North Karachi Association of Trade and Industry (NKATI) and Federal B Area Association of Trade and Industry (FBAATI) at Karachi Press Club, criticising police for its failure to provide protection he said that after December 27 incident, mobs started looting, burning and ransacking factories, banks, showrooms, shops, hotels and houses and police was seen nowhere to provide protection.
He said in just eight hours, a total of 16 factories in Korangi Industrial Area alone were looted, ransacked and burned. Alleging involvement of residents of Katchi Abadies in looting, he said that some culprits have used these peoples to loot and burn industrial units. These Katchi Abadies must be removed on priority bases, he demanded.
He said that when he contacted Rangers head office and asked for deployment of Rangers the Rangers chief expressed his helplessness saying that all roads were blocked and mobiles can not be moved. A very large number of police official were posted on seriate duties of VIPs and VVIPs.
Expressing fear, he said that the lawlessness has shaken confidence of investors, industrialists, business community and added that if conditions did not improve in next few months, revenue collection target would not be achieved.
S.M. Munir said that the textile sector already facing crises. Many industrials units have already gone out of production and now recent disturbances have played a role of fuel on fire. He said that the business community has suggested that their representatives be included in government law and order committees but their suggestion was ignored.
Chairman, Kati Shaikh Fazl-e-Jalil quoting initial estimates of the association said that total losses come to Rs 20 billion including Rs 3 billion inventory losses, Rs 7 billion export losses and Rs 10 billion fixed assets losses in Korangi Industrial Area alone.
He said a total of 16 factories were affected, majority of them were completely looted and gutted, seven banks branches were ransacked, looted and burnt, four petrol pumps were burnt, two office of KESC and Sui gas were burnt, two car showrooms were ransacked and torched and one hotel was torched. Nine persons lost their lives. Besides this, around 16,000 people become jobless, he added. He said that the government should device some mechanism to pay salaries of these 16,000 unemployed workers and arrange for their employment.
Former chairman, Kati, Abdul Haseeb Khan suggested that one or two percent of total taxes paid by Korangi Industrial Area should be allocated for maintenance of law and order in the same industrial area. Korangi Industrial Area paying around 38 percent in taxes, he added. He said that a new force be developed in public private partnership for maintenance of law and order in industrial areas of the city.
Chairman, NKATI Noor Ahmed Khan said that North Karachi Industrial Area comprises of small industrial units. Six units were completed gutted and a very large number of units were ransacked. The industrialists suffered a loss of Rs 50 million and around 4 to 5 thousand workers, majority of them women become jobless. He urged the government to provide compensation and security.
Chairman, FBAATI Idrees Gigi said that the industrialists have no choice but to make their own security arrangements to prevent such incidents in future.
Chairman, Lubricant Association of Pakistan, Mian Zahid Hussain suggested establishment of crises management cell. Giving example of foreign countries, he said that they have crises management cell and in such a situation this cell act immediately to control the situation.