The strike of owners of kiln entered into third day in southern Punjab on Monday. This strike will continue till July 18. A delegation of Kiln Owners' Association on Sunday made an abortive attempt to meet Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani when they attended the Qul-Khawani of Syed Hassan Shah Mashhadi, a PPP leader and Sajjadah Nasheen of Darbar Hazrat Shershah, on Sunday but security personnel foiled their attempt.
However, Prime Minister conveyed a message of assurance to the association and said that their grievances would be redressed. Kiln owners were observing strike from July 2 (today) till July 18 in protest against the levy of 17 percent General Sales Tax (GST) on the bricks. President Kilns Association Multan Nazar Muhammad Khan and General Secretary Amjad Jagwal made this announcement while addressing a press conference at the press club on Saturday. Majority of the kiln owners of Multan, Shujabad, Muzaffargarh, Khanewal and Jalalpur Pirwala were also present on the occasion. Nazar said that the GST on the bricks was unjustified as it would not only affect their businesses but also jobs of hundreds of labourers would be put at stake.
He said that the general public would also suffer a lot as the construction cost of houses and other buildings would go high. He said that kiln owners had demanded of the government through media and other means to withdraw the decision to save the kiln industry from ruination and hundreds of labourers would be rendered jobless. He said as their appeals fell on deaf ears, they had no other option but to go on a strike till July 18. Meanwhile, in view of the strike announced by the kilns' association, the rates of bricks have been increased in the market by the suppliers and stockists, it has been revealed. PML-N senior leader Makhdoom Javed Hashmi said that the government's tall claims regarding the welfare of the people had been exposed.