The trade and industrial sectors of Punjab have unanimously decided to observe April 8 as black day to protest against the perceived discrimination being meted out to the province in distribution of gas and electricity.
Chairman All Punjab Textile Associations Council Rana Arif Tauseef while addressing a press conference here said that the energy crisis in Punjab had taken a serious turn, as the entire burden of the crisis has been diverted to the province under the garb of NFC Award and some constitutional amendments.
"The entire onus of energy crisis has been put on Punjab despite the lowest line losses, minimum pilferage and maximum recoveries," he opined. He said that the unprecedented load shedding being carried out in the province had its devastating impact on the industrial and business sectors.
He was also critical of some clauses of 18th constitutional amendment, which has barred across the board distribution of natural resources. "This discrepancy could be removed in 20th amendment but our legislators showed little interest in this issue of prime importance," he deplored. He demand that the injustices should be done away in 21st constitutional amendment. He said that Punjab was the food basket of the country and was providing wheat to the federating units without any discrimination but it was being subjected to unfair distribution of gas and electricity.
Tauseef also came down harsh on the government over the repeated increase in prices of gas, petroleum products and tariff of electricity, which have eroded the industrial base. Hundreds of factories have been closed down rendering millions of workers jobless.
He said that business community of Faisalabad has been forced to observe black day on April 8. He requested to all groups of traders and industrialists to pull down their shutters for 11am to 3pm on Sunday. Various traders and industrial associations would also take out protest rallies followed by a main protest meeting at Clock tower at 3:00pm, he added
To a question, he said that business community would not pay fuel adjustment surcharge and asked the government to cut down its rate immediately enabling people to pay their electricity bills. Meanwhile, addressing a protest meeting of local business community, Ch. Salamat Ali, Chief Co-ordinator and ex chairman, Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturing and Exporters Association, North Zone said that the fresh increase in fuel prices would affect the prices of other commodities, causing further inflation in the country. This decision would yield unemployment and sick industries in the country, he added and demanded the government to withdraw the decision in the best interest of the country.