About 60 percent small and medium industrial units in North Karachi industrial area could not resume production on Friday due to long hours unannounced load shedding and strike against publication of sacrilegious cartoons by Danish newspaper. Industrialists claimed that 25 percent labour did not turn up due to the strike call.
The morning shift failed to perform duty due to long hours power outrage in the industrial area. The workers were seen siting idle outside their work places. North Karachi Association of Trade and Industry (NKATI) Patern-in-chief Moiz Khan said that industries in North Karachi remained closed for four hours in the morning owning to power failure in the area. Majority of the units in the area are small and medium and they can not afford to have power generating units to carry on the work.
He said that Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) had announced load-shedding program. Under this program power supply will remain off from 7 pm to 12 pm. Criticising load-shedding schedule, he said that it has become almost impossible for industrialists to carry on production with second shift as second shift starts from 6 pm and continues till 12 pm.
Another big problem faced by industrialists is low voltage. Many industrial machinery can not be operated on low voltage and industries fail to operate on full capacity. He expressed fear that power supply might further worsen in peak summer season with increased use of air conditioners at domestic sector.
However, Site Association of Industry (SAI) Chairman Nisar Shakhani and Federal B Area Association of Trade and Industry (FBAATI) Chairman Idrees Gigi said that industrial production in their areas remained normal as there was no load shedding in the morning. However, as per KESC announced load shedding program power went off at 7 am.
A former chairman of Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI), Masood Naqi, said that in that industrial area there were several small interval power breakdowns on Friday that disturbed production activities. Another industrialist said that a very large number of industrial workers did not turn up due to thin public transport and the strike call.