Closure of pumps, thin transport hit industry: Output stands at 25pc
By Aamir Shafaat Khan
KARACHI, April 13: Thin transport and closure of majority of petrol pumps have literally jammed Karachi’s economic wheel for the second consecutive day on Thursday in the aftermath of Nishtar Park carnage. Industrial units have recorded only 20-25 per cent production, while the retail and wholesale markets remained closed throughout the day.
In view of Friday’s strike call, many industrial units’ operators have decided to observe the day as a holiday and called upon workers and staff on Sunday to cover up losses.
Industrialists said the three-day closure of industrial and trading activities had been the worst and a record in the country’s history. Exporters find themselves in trouble as they fear expiry of L/Cs, inordinate delay in shipments, etc.
The closure of majority of petrol pumps has emerged as the main reason for keeping transporters and motorists off the roads. There was a long queue at the pumps and many of them were seen run out of fuel as they failed to get supply from tankers owing to tense situation.
Even the transport facility provided by factory owners could not be operated properly for want of fuel, while many bike and car owners did not turn up to their offices and factories as they did not have enough fuel in tanks.
Daily wagers had experienced a very tough time. A large number of people, who work in leather and textile garment factories on per piece basis, have suffered very badly owing to low production.
Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA) Chairman Abdul Sami Khan said that all the pumps had suspended their sales on Wednesday to show sympathy with those who lost their lives in the Nishtar Park blast. “There was also a fear of being set ablaze of pumps by the miscreants.”
He said that even the police officials had come to the pumps in the evening, urging the owners to shut the pumps. On Thursday afternoon the Sindh home ministry issued orders for reopening of pumps, he added.
“Instead of providing security at the pumps, the administration had ordered the closure of pumps. It was a surprising move.”
However, consumers in many areas failed to get fuel as pumps remained closed till Thursday night.
The PPDA chief said the association had not given any call for shutting down of pumps on Friday but it depended on the situation. Petrol pumps have the storage capacity of 22,000-100,000 litres depending on the size of pumps and daily turnover.
INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION: Site Association of Industry Chairman Ameen Bandukda said that there was hardly 20 per cent production in industrial units owing to very thin public transport. “Government and industries’ losses have touched billions of rupees on account of declining industrial activities,” he said.
Former Site association chairman Dr Mirza Ikhtiar Baig said that many industry owners had decided to close down their units on Friday and called upon the workers on Sunday for full-day production.
“During the last three days, there was hardly any production. L/Cs has expired, foreign buyers have gone back and exporters have failed to meet their commitments on time,” he said.
“Our efforts to improve the image of Pakistan internationally during the Expo 2006 and World Social Forum have gone down the drain. The recent events will again send bad message to buyers.”
Mr Baig said there had been a bottleneck in the movement of domestic and foreign trade for the last two to three days.
Korangi Association of Trade and Industry Chairman Gulzar Feroz said that production in the industries remained affected by 60-70 per cent due to poor attendance of workers.
North Karachi Association of Trade and Industry Chairman Dawood Usman Jhakoora said the situation of industrial activities on Thursday remained almost the same like Wednesday due to thin public transport and non-availability of fuel at the pumps. There was hardly 20 per cent production in the industries, he added.
He said many industrialists had declared Friday as a holiday in their units and called upon workers on Sunday.
Former NKATI chairman Syed Azim Ali said only 20-25 per cent production was recorded on Thursday. Due to non-supply of fuel many industries have run out of diesel used for standby generators in case of load-shedding to meet timely production for export commitments.
Idris Gigi, chairman, sub-committee law and order of the F.B. Area Association of Trade and Industry, said that only 25 per cent production could be registered in the area.
