Industrial and business activities in the city were badly affected on Friday due to a strike call given by ruling Pakistan People's Party (PPP) in response to a decision of the Supreme Court on the appointment of chairman of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
Some of the industrial units located in the PPP dominated areas remain completely close while in other areas the industries were partly affected. Daily supply of goods from the industries to the markets and deliveries of raw materials from upcountry to the industrial units were also affected
Arrival of trucks, loaded with fruits and vegetables, from upcountry and interior Sindh at the Super Highway Sabzi Mandi, nose-dived sharply. Sources said that the supply of fruits and vegetables to the city markets remained completely suspended Many petrol pumps and gas stations remained closed, creating hardships for commuters and motorists. Public transport remained off road and attendance in offices was thin. Some of the industrialists said due to tense situation and absence of public transport, the supply of raw material to industries also remained suspended throughout the day.
Industrialists criticised strike calls and said that it sent a very discouraging signal to foreign investors. They said that local and foreign investors were already reluctant to invest in the country due to prevailing law and order condition, non-availability of power and gas to run the units smoothly. They said that tussle between government and judiciary is extremely disturbing. Government must honour Supreme Court decisions, they insisted.
Reports from North Karachi industrial area said industries suffered a production loss of 70 percent as majority of the workers and staffers could not reach the workplace. Chairman Federal B Area Association of Trade and Industry (FBAATI) Mohammad Irfan said that industries suffered production losses due to thin attendance.
He said that some of the industrialists did not allow their night shift to leave the units to complete exports orders on time. He urged all the political parties to visualise prevailing grim economic condition of the country and make no move which hurt industrial activities. He said that country has already suffered huge losses and it cannot afford any further loss. He advised political parts to agitate their issue on other forms instead to disturbing economic activities.
He said beside strike Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) also carried out unannounced four hour load shedding which also hampered production activities. Chairman Site Association of Industry (SAI), Wahab Lakhani also said that industrial activities were affected slightly due to thin attendance. He however said almost 70 to 80 percent workers managed to report on duty. Heavy transport was available and movement of goods from units to up country and export was almost normal.