Chairman F.B. Area Association of Trade and Industry (FBATI), Masroor Ahmed Alvi said that that 75 per cent units out of total 2,500 units were closed while only 25-30 per cent workers marked their attendance in the operating units due to lack of public transport. - File photo

KARACHI: Production activities in almost all the industrial estates came to a halt on Saturday as the city observed complete shutdown on the call of business community to protest alarming rise in street crimes, cases of extortion and kidnapping for ransom.

All the main markets also remained closed and suspension of supplies from the industries also crippled the export goods’ movement to the ports.

Transporters kept their vehicles off the road till the evening which did not let a number of workers to reach their respective industries thus affecting two shifts in industries mainly.

Two factors also supported the city’s shutdown on the weekend. SSGCL had already been undertaking routine closure of CNG stations from 9.00 a.m. (Saturday) to 9.00 a.m. (Sunday), which usually causes at least 50 per cent drop in public and private vehicle movement.

Secondly, the SSGCL had also suspended natural gas supply to industries and captive power units in Site Industrial area, North Karachi and F.B. Area industrial areas on Saturday from 7.00am to 7.00pm (12 hours). Industrialists anticipated further production losses as the SSGCL has further asked the gas dependent industries and captive power units on Saturday to keep their production suspended on Sunday.

President Karachi Tajir Itehad Atiq Mir said closure all markets and commercial and shopping centres caused a cumulative trade loss of Rs3 billion in a single day besides affecting 2.5 to three million daily wage earners.

He claimed that the entire industrial estates must have suffered a production and revenue loss of Rs6 to Rs7 billion.

Atiq gave three day ultimatum to the government to control bhatta mafia and kidnapping for ransom otherwise the traders would resort to indefinite shutter down.

Chairman Site Association of Industry Mohammad Irfan Moton estimated a production and revenue loss of Rs1 to Rs2 billion from Site area alone due to 12 hour closure of industries.

He added many industrialists-cum-exporters had resumed their production activities after 7:00pm to meet foreign orders.

Chairman Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI) Ehteshamuddin estimated a production loss of Rs3 billion in Korangi area alone where almost all the industries did not operate out of over 2,200 active units in the area.

Chairman F.B. Area Association of Trade and Industry (FBATI), Masroor Ahmed Alvi said that that 75 per cent units out of total 2,500 units were closed while only 25-30 per cent workers marked their attendance in the operating units due to lack of public transport.

He said industries not depending on gas will open on Sunday to offset production losses of Saturday.

Chairman North Karachi Association of Trade and Industry (NKATI) Abdul Rasheed Fodderwala said 90 per cent industries were completely shut out of total 1,700 active units.

President Falahi Anjuman Wholesale Vegetable Market Super Highway, Haji Shahjehan said that 95 per cent of the fruit and vegetable shops were closed as majority of the buyers from the city did not turn up due to complete shutdown.

Even the arrival of trucks carrying fruits and vegetables also plunged to 300-400 a day as compared to 700-800 in normal days. One can estimate a trade loss from low arrival of trucks if an average price of Rs200,000 per truck is taken.