Unscheduled, prolonged power cuts: industrialists, traders to go on strike on May 1

Traders and industrialists have jointly announced to observe complete strike on May 01 against unscheduled prolonged power cuts and non-availability of gas. They also announced to stage sit-in in front of FESCO HQ on Canal Road Abdullahpur. Addressing a joint press conference, they said that they would continue protests until their demands are accepted.
Group leader, Chaudhry Salamat Ali, Chairman Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PHMA) North Zone said that all associations would actively participate in this protest and if the issue was not resolved they would be forced to go on indefinite strike. He said that the continuous unscheduled loadshedding has disturbed the industrial and commercial activities rendering millions of wage earners jobless.
He said that the issue was repeatedly raised at the highest forums but the problem is aggravating with each passing day. He said that trade associations have unanimously decided to observe strike by closing down factories from May 1. He warned that a strategy would also be evolved to start civil disobedience move by refusing to pay various bills.
Chaudhry Salamat Ali said that for the sake of mere 1.5 billion dollars, the rulers listening to the IMF and are ignoring the country's textile sector's potential of 15 billion dollars. If the textile sector collapsed the whole economy and the country would collapse, he warned. Meanwhile, powerlooms owners and workers took out protest procession against prolonged power outages at Sumandri road, where they blocked the traffic by burning the tyres and raised the slogans against the government and Fesco authorities.