Industrial production remained suspended in almost all seven industrial areas of the city here on Tuesday while all wholesale and retail markets remained closed owing to the daylong violence after the killing of a Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) worker. The MQM announced day of mourning on Tuesday after some armed men entered the house of Mansoor Mukhtar, a member of its PIB sector committee, in PIB colony and shot him to death, which led to widespread violence in the city.
Most of industrial units remained completely closed on Tuesday while the units in operation suffered over 80-90 percent production loss owing to negligible attendance of workers. Owing to absence of pubic transport, people failed to reach their workplaces. Though some of the workers living in nearby areas of the industrial areas did attend their duties, they could not energies normal production.
The movement to goods through containers and trucks to and from the ports, industries, markets and upcountry remained suspended completely. Industrialists estimate a cumulative loss of over Rs 6 to Rs 7 billions due to the complete shutdown of over 12,000 units Daily wagers suffered the most due to the closure of industrials units. Site Industrial Area comprises of around 4,000 small, medium and big industrial units wherein 60-70 percent workers are daily wagers. While the Korangi Industrial Area houses over 4,000-4,500 industrial units and 40 percent employees in the industrial units are daily wagers.
Industrialists in Federal B Industrial Area said that 75 percent out of the total 2,500 units were closed while only 25-30 percent workers turned up in the units which were in operation. However, they said, even those who showed up later left for homes after getting the news of violence in the city.
Patron-in-chief of Bin Qasim Association of Trade & Industry (BQATI) Mian Muhammed Ahmed, President Usman Ahmed, Vice President Abdul Rasheed Jan Mohammed and others expressed concerns over the deteriorating law and order situation of Karachi. Usman Ahmed said that for the last few days law and order situation in Karachi was deteriorating continuously, as incidents of kidnapping, ransom, bhatta, robberies and street crimes were on the rise in the city.
He said that organized gangs were operating with impunity in Karachi, which were involved in kidnapping for ransom, car lifting, looting and killings that was a source of great concerns and anxiety for business community. He said that on Tuesday around 45 vehicles were set on fire in different areas of Karachi, which almost halted the city. Farhan Ansari, Chairman, Law & Order Advisory Committee of BQATI, was of the view that these events had re-emphasised the need of taking stringent measures to curb criminal activities and improve law and order situation.
Comments
Comments are closed for this article.