The strike against the recent increase in the mark up on gas and electricity in Faisalabad, known as the ‘Manchester of Pakistan’ because of its industry, continues till the filing of this report. All businesses in the city stand closed since July 11 and more than 14,000 units related to the textile, power looms, hosiery, sizing etc., are shut. Those who are suffering due to the closure of these units number in thousands. Around one million people will be affected due to this, who will come out on the streets to protest.
In addition to Faisalabad, Lahore, Sialkot, Gujranwala and office bearers of representatives’ bodies of other cities have also announced strike to express solidarity with the industrial community of Faisalabad.
When the industrialists and business community of Faisalabad launched this protest movement from the platform of chamber of commerce and industry against the 31 per cent rise in the gas and electricity charges, many rounds of talks were held with the government representatives. A delegation, lead by Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce President Khawaja Asim Khurshid and also comprising Senior Provincial Minister Raja Riaz Ahmed, met Federal Minister for Trade and Textile Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar. The minister was apprised that it had become impossible to run industrial units with the prevailing gas charges intact. Mr. Mukhtar said all these issues were in the knowledge of Pakistan People’s Party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and he had formed a committee headed by Federal Minister for Finance Syed Naveed Qamar to review all the problems. He said the problems of the industrialists would be solved soon.
However, due to the engagements of the Prime Minister, Yousuf Raza Gilani, outside the country, the matter wasn’t considered seriously. This has lead to the longest strike in the history of Faisalabad, rendering thousands of workers unemployed. The strike is also taxing the national exchequer.
The businessmen community in Faisalabad has started staging rallies after closing down business centres. These rallies are being participated by industrial organisations of the entire city including Pakistan Textile Exporters Association, All Pakistan Textile Processing Mills Association, Pakistan Power Looms Association, Pakistani Agriculture Machinery and Implements Manufacturers Association, Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturing Association, All Pakistan Sizing Industries Association, Faisalabad Industrialists Association, Kharianwala Industrial Estate Association, Faisalabad Foundry and Engineering Industries Group, All Pakistan Embroidery Association, Pakistan Dyes and Chemical Traders Group, Pakistan Jewelers and Sarafa Association, Faisalabad Grey Cloth Association, Faisalabad Goods Transport Association and Pakistan Soap Manufacturers Association.
In this regard, Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Khawaja Asim Khursheed held a press conference along with Lahore Chamber President Muhammad Ali Mian, Sheikhupura Chamber President Mian Muhammad Yusuf and Sialkot Chamber President Ziaullah. He said the industry in Faisalabad was earning four billion dollars to the national exchequer in the form of foreign exchange annually, but due to the unprecedented rise in the electricity and gas tariffs it was virtually impossible to run the industry. So now after Faisalabad, industries would also be closed elsewhere in the country. He said two million families would be affected due to the joint strike and there would be a daily loss of Rs750 million in Faisalabad.
Mr. Khursheed said talks had been held at the federal government level. The units that are closed in Faisalabad include 73 power looms of Textile Spinning Mills, 0.321 million shuttle looms, nine thousand air jet looms, seven hundred textile processing printing and finishing mills, 126 hoisery knit wear, 1,513 foundries, 110 rice mills, 53 soup industries, 59 vegetable cooking oil, seven confectioners and 25 units of cotton ginning.