The Pakistan Industrial and Traders Association Front (PIAF) in line with scheduled series of protests against the energy crisis, the industrialists and industrial workers of Kot Lakhpat Industrial Estate on Friday staged a 'coffin-carrying' protest to press the government for continuous supply of electricity and gas in the estate.
The protesters, who were chanting full-throated slogans against government authorities concerned, warning the government of more such protests if continuous supply of electricity was not ensured immediately.
The protest demonstration, jointly led by former LCCI President Mian Anjum Nisar, Chairman Lahore Township Industrial Area (LTIA) Babar Mehmood Chaudhry, PIAF Chairman Irfan Qaiser Sheikh, LCCI Senior Vice President Tahir Javaid Malik, LTIA Vice Chairmen Chaudhry Zaheer Bhutta, Wasimud Din Chugtai, PIAF Vice Chairman Khwaja Shahzeb Akram and former PIAF Chairman Mian Abuzar Shad was also participated by a large number of industrialists and industrial workers.
Addressing the protesters, former LCCI President Mian Anjum Nisar criticised the government for its wrong policy and mismanaging the affairs, and said that the industry had almost collapsed and industrial workers were staging protests. He said had right steps been taken well in time, the situation would have been far better. He feared that IMF loan would multiply in coming days if the industrial wheel remains slow.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chairman Lahore Township Industrial Area (LTIA) Babar Mehmood Chaudhry said that sword of unemployment was hanging over the heads of industrial workers due to non-availability of electricity but the government was playing the role of silent spectator. He said that the industrial area, which was hub of production, was presenting a deserted look as a large number of industrial units had stopped production.
The PIAF Chairman Irfan Qaiser Sheikh said that the economic crisis would further deepen in coming days as industry has failed to meet existing export orders what to talk of any new orders.