More than 600 industries, most of them in textile sector, remained closed on fourth consecutive day here on Wednesday, while Sui Northern Gas Pipelines (SNGPL) extended the ongoing gas load shedding schedule up to January 20.
About 100,000 power looms also remained closed because sizing of yarn was suspended due to gas load shedding to sizing industries and textile processing factories were not in a position to dispose of the huge stock of grey cloth in limited period of their working.
About 400,000 workers, most of them daily wagers, remained jobless on fourth consecutive day and are facing hunger at their home due to non-availability of livelihood.
Salamat Ali, Chairman, of Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers & Exporters Association (PHMA), North Zone, said that export-oriented and labour-intensive value-added textile industry is facing loss of billions of rupees daily due to five to six days gas load shedding within a week, while the 'mark-up meter' of banks is running fast. Resultantly, industrialists are not in a position to clear the loan as per schedule because their factories are not functioning, he added.
He strongly demanded that the rate of mark -p should be converted into single digit and one-year mark-up against loans of affected textile sector of Punjab should also be frozen.
He said that the meeting of Prime Minister and Chief Minister is still fruitless and SNGPL is observing gas load shedding of five days in a week, while industrialists are demanding gas for five days in a week. Meanwhile, jobless workers staged protest demonstrations outside the closed factories and demanded of the government to immediately end the load shedding of electricity and gas, saving the industry and their jobs.