More than 600 industrial units remained closed on fourth consecutive day on Monday and industrialists fear that the ongoing gas schedule would continue till Wednesday (tomorrow) due to drastic drop of gas pressure. In Faisalabad region, a large number of CNG station also remained closed on second consecutive day after concluding of two days (Friday and Saturday) gas loadshedding due to low gas pressure.
Furthermore, hundreds of industrial workers took out protest procession against growing unemployment and prolonged gas and electricity loadshedding, which is disturbing their lives. Protesters blocked the traffic on by-pass Jhang road for several hours. The major protest rally of labour union was taken out from Sidhar and all processions gathered at by-pass Chowk on Jhang road.
Addressing the protest rally, the labour leaders demanded of that the government to end gas and electricity loadshedding. All cases against more than 162 industrial workers registered at Thikrewala police station should be withdrawn immediately as per promises made by the district administration to end tension between industrialists and labourers, they added.
Talking to newsmen, Chaudhry Salamat Ali, Chairman, Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers & Exporters Association (PHMEA) North Zone expressed grave concern over the severe and prolonged gas loadshedding and said that the closures of the textile units were facing severe financial crunch, while the federal government did not fulfil its single commitment it made with the industrialists.
Industrialists expressed apprehension saying that SNGPL was planning to extend duration of gas loadhedding schedule upto January 12, six days off in a week, which was a serious step against the industrialisation of Punjab. Machinery of billion of rupees converting into scrape due to mysterious conspiracy against Punjab, where export oriented and labour intensive textile industry was closing permanently and unemployment was spreading.
He also expressed grave concern over power outages, which is adding fuel to fire. The chairman PHMEA said that Punjab government should resolve this matter on priority basis as it was included in their "Ultimatum" for saving the Punjab industrial sector. He said that the new unseen gas suspension plan of SNGPL would have a very negative impact on textile industry as well as national economy.
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