KARACHI: Almost all industrial units in all the five industrial estates of the city remained closed on Friday as workers failed to reach their work places owing to increasing incidents of violence and 'mourning day' announced by MQM. Public transport remained off the road. Industrialists said that one-day closure of industrial units in Karachi causes around Rs 2.5 billion losses.
The President of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Mohammad Saeed Shafiq, has threatened that business community will be compelled to close down business if the government fails to restore peace in the city. Industrialists said that Karachi, from where 80 percent of exports of various products are made, and about 68 percent of the country s total revenue is generated, should not be left to the mercy of target killers and criminals.
They said that the Sindh government is doing nothing to ensure peaceful business environment for a better economy. Over 61 people have fallen prey to target killings in last three days. Terrorists were sending a clear message to the rulers that they were engaged in their killing spree without any let or hindrance.
Karachi is passing through the worst phase of its history. Hardly a day goes by when terrorists do not terrorise its innocent citizens and kill them in cold blood. Workers who managed to reach their work places also left for home after some time. There are around 3000 industrial units in Site industrial area and one-day closure causes around Re 1 billion production losses. Besides, the government sustains Rs 200 million revenue losses.
People preferred to stay at home due to fear, closure of petrol pumps and no availability of transport and CNG. Sources said that target killings in city are ruining the industry, trade and culture of the metropolitan. Panic has gripped the city but the government is not supporting the stance of people of Karachi due to which incidents of target killings have increased. The trade, economical and industrial life of the city has come to a standstill due to lawlessness and chaos.
They said that all around the world, countries take steps to cleanse their respective economic hubs from turbidity of all sorts and special focus is placed on providing civic amenities. But the situation runs contrary here as Karachi, the economic hub of the country, has been handed over to the terrorists and people have been left at the mercy of callous murderers.
In Korangi industrial, area around 90 percent industrial units remained closed. In Federal B Area, entire industrial units remained closed. Increasing incident of firing in public transport played a major role to keep workers away from workplace. Industrialists from North Karachi industrial area said that entire industrial units in these industrial estates remained closed. Majority of industrial units are export-oriented and strike created big problems in meeting production target and completing export orders on time.