Anti-gas loadshedding protest: big processions taken out in Faisalabad

Industrialists, textile exporters, industrial workers and civil society members here on Saturday, took out sizeable processions from six focal points of this industrial city to protest against drastically reduced gas supply as the closure of industrial units in Faisalabad Region entered eleventh consecutive day.
Business activities of yarn and grey cloth markets also halted due to prolonged shutdown of industries. Processionists blocked traffic on various roads for several hours and burnt tyres in the middle of roads. The major procession was taken out from Millat Industrial Estate, which was led by Qamar Aftab, Vice Chairman of PHMA, North Zone, Naeem Ahmad, Naeem-ul-Haq, Dr Khurram Tariq, Zia Alamdar and Tauseef Salamat. The processionists were carrying banners and placards and were chanting slogans against the federal government and demanded immediate end of four days' gas load shedding in a week.
Another big procession was taken out from Khurrianwala Industrial Estate (KIA), which was led by Arif Tauseef, Chairman of Pakistan Textile Exporters Association, and Azhar Majeed Sheikh, Chairman of KIA. It proceeded to Faisalabad in the shape of a caravan. A third procession was taken out from Sargodha Road, which was led by Aftab Ahmad, Regional Chairman of All Pakistan Textile Processing Mills Association, and others.
More than three other processions were taken out by the industrial workers from various parts of the city. They burnt tyres and chanted slogans against federal government and demanded immediate restoration of the gas so that industrial wheel could be run, which was halted for last eleven days due to non-availability of the gas.
Later, all processions gathered in front of the City District Government Offices, where protest sit-in was staged by industrialists, textile exporters, industrial workers and civil society members. Meanwhile, the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines (SNGPL) extended the gas load shedding schedule for the fourth day, which would last till December 12 at 6 am. However, industrialists and textile exporters announced to run their factories from Monday morning as a mark of protest.
Briefing media persons, Salamat Ali, chief co-ordinator and a former chairman of Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers and Exporters Association (North Zone), expressed grave concern over sudden downward revision in gas supply to textile sector for four days in a week.
The industrial sector of Faisalabad region is adversely affected by the gas load shedding as the production has come to a halt, bringing misery to thousands of daily wagers. He demanded that the government should accord top priority to the export-oriented and labour-intensive industries of Punjab and a bailout package should be given to the industry to save investment of billions of rupees.
Addressing the demonstration, Arif, Qamar Aftab, Aftab Ahmad, Rehan Naseem Bharara, and other leaders said that textile industry has already suffered gas disruption of 166 days during current calendar year and it is likely to reach 175 days in case the present trend continued further. They said that gas shortage had negative impact on entire industrial sector, which was already passing through very challenging times. Not only the textile exports and productions have nose-dived but the graph of unemployment has also gone up as a large number of industrial units have closed down their operations. As a consequence of load shedding, the textile production capacity of various sub sectors has been reduced up to 60 percent and cost of production has also risen as some industrialists use alternative source. Due to such dramatic situation, 60 to 70 percent of the industry have been affected and is unable to accept export orders coming in from around the globe, he stated.
More than 600 industrial units of Faisalabad Region remained closed for last ten days, while 380 CNG stations remained closed for the third consecutive day. Industrialists also warned of continuous protests and non-payment of bills if the gas if distribution is not done on equality basis. Transporters also took advantage of the situation by raising fares, causing difficulty to the commuters. The districts affected by three-day CNG closure include Faisalabad, Sargodha, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Mianwali, Khushaab and Chiniot.