Protest against severe loadshedding of electricity continues in industrial city and its adjoining towns and cities of Faisalabad Division, where 18-20 hour loadshedding has become a routine. The petroleum price hike is yielding new price hike for poor masses and unemployment is creating lawlessness.
Meanwhile, Faisalabad is flooded with black flags and banners to mark the Black Day on Sunday. Rana Arif Tauseef Chairman All Punjab Textile Associations Council (APTAC) has made a humble appeal to industrialists, traders, transporters, former Nazims Union Councils, councillors and specially citizens of Faisalabad to play their instrumental role in the success of Black Day and give a clear message that People of Faisalabad are ready to get their legitimate rights.
"They should participate in protest rallies in large numbers and hoist black flags on the roof tops of their houses and flags in addition to unfurling black flags at their busses, trucks, wagons, rickshaws and motorcycles". Rana Arif said that Faisalabad was earning billions of dollars for the country but it is being subjected to unprecedented load shedding of 16 hours in addition to rampant gas outage.
He said that shortage of gas and electricity has not only damaged its industry but also played havoc with its trade and business. He said that in winter gas was supplied only for 2 days in a week but despite the advent of summer, the situation has not returned to normal.
He said that progress and property of a country is directly linked with its industrial and economic activities but a deep rooted conspiracy has been hatched through forced load shedding of gas and electricity to destroy its industrial base. Rana Arif said that peaceful protest of April 8 would prove beyond any doubt that industrialists, traders, businessmen, transporters and citizens of Faisalabad are alive and are ready to protect their legitimate rights by rejecting discriminatory and unfair policies of the government. The business centers and markets and bazaars would remain closed from 11 am to 2 pm followed by a main protest meeting at clock tower at 3 pm on Sunday, he added.