KARACHI: Industrial and trading activities came to a grinding halt in the provincial capital on Thursday — the first day of PML-N government in office — due to the ‘day of mourning’ (youm-i-sog) announced by the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM). However, traders pulled up their shutters after 3pm but the main wholesale markets were completely shut throughout the day. Some industries resumed their evening shift but with low workers’ attendance. On the whole, the movement of goods between ports and industries and local dispatches of goods remained paralysed due to non-plying of transporting vehicles. President All Karachi Tajir Ittehad (AKTI) Atiq Mir estimated that the shutdown caused overall (commercial, industrial and port) Rs3.5 billion to Rs4bn losses. He said the main wholesale markets did not operate while shopping malls and centres also witnessed partial business after 3pm, while many remained completely closed as people could not reach to their workplaces as there was no public transport available. Chairman Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI) Zubair Chahya said there was almost complete production halt in 4,000-4,500 small to big units in Korangi area as public transport was absent coupled with closure of petrol pumps that also restricted the movement of private vehicles. He added that majority of the industries failed to operate their evening shifts. Chairman North Karachi Association of Trade and Industry (NKATI), Syed Iqtida Ali said only two to three per cent units were operating out of total 2,000 units in the area as workers did not turn up. Chairman of F.B. Area Association of Trade and Industry (FBATI) Haroon Shamsi said out of 2,000 units, only 20-25 per cent units were operating while other did not record any production due to absence of workers. He added that some industrialists, who had to meet foreign orders, had run their evening shifts. Senior Vice Chairman Site Association of Industry (SAI) Naseem Anwar said 70pc industries suffered production losses due to dearth of workers and staffers. He urged Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif to pay serious attention on restoring lasting peace to this economic hub of the country, warning that if the law and order situation is not improved businessmen will be left with no option but to relocate their businesses to other countries or provinces. President Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry Muhammad Haroon Agar estimated production, trading, etc., losses between Rs3bn to Rs4bn (excluding revenues) on Thursday due to closure of city. He expressed deep concerns over precarious law and order situation and demanded the newly-elected premier and the chief minister of Sindh to take immediate notice of threats to businessmen of Karachi and ensure safety and security as it was the prime responsibility of the government. He lamented that the city and its business/industrial community had been made hostage of very powerful mafia and their lives have become insecure and vulnerable. Agar demanded fool-proof security measures to check extortion (bhatta), targeted killing, firing, kidnapping for ransom and other crimes which have compelled industrial community to close down their businesses to save their lives and families. “The trading houses, industries, marriage halls, small traders are still receiving extortion chits,” he added. He said hundreds of businesspeople had been killed in the last few years by the bhatta mafia as law enforcement agencies failed in arresting the culprits. The KCCI president said the chamber had been continuously drawing attention of the government towards targeted killings but received only momentary assurances and short-lived measures and the deployment of law enforcement agencies was revoked to protect the privileged class.
Posted on: Sat, 08 Jun 2013 08:22:16 +0000