KARACHI, Jan 14: Most of the industrial areas remained completely shut on Monday due to strike call given by the religious parties over tragic Quetta incident.

The suspension in production activities and two-way goods movement between Karachi and other cities caused billions of rupees losses as export shipments also remained paralysed followed by closure of many banks, industrialists said.

Businessmen and industrialists were not optimistic about any betterment in economic activities in the next four to six months in view of prevailing uncertainty over holding of general elections on time amid worsening law and order situation.

President Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Haroon Agar estimated “a trade and industrial loss of Rs3-4 billion on Monday which include export, government revenues, daily production, import etc.”

He said that for the last three to four days intercity goods’ movement also stuck up due to sit-in by the protestors followed by blocking of roads to prevent a religious party leader and his workers to reach Islamabad for a big political change.

“I do not think that the government is willing to hold the general elections this year in view of deteriorating law and order situation and developments in Balochistan,” he said, adding people have started feeling now that their united stand can change situation and more people will go for this option after change in Balochistan political set-up.

He said the government should strive hard to hold elections in time to avert any serious crisis. “I think the next five to six months are extremely crucial for the people and businessmen as working business environment is not conducive,” Agar said.

Chairman Site Association of Industries Dr Arshad Vohra said 60-70 per cent units out of 2,700 units remained completely closed on Monday owing to absence of public transport and closure of many main arteries of the city due to protest sit-ins.

He was of the view that closure of many roads in Punjab and other areas of the country in the last three to four days due to sit-in had yet to make any impact on the industries, but its impact would be felt in coming days definitely.

He said that industrialists were highly uncertain over the government’s inability to announce a specific date for general elections interim set-up.

“I think first quarter of the current year will prove a testing time for the trade and industry as long as the government keeps delaying announcement of election date while unstable political and law and order situation loom large,” Dr Vohra said.

Chairman Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI) Zubair Chahya said industrial activities came to standstill on the first day of the week as most of the units remained inoperative due to lack of transport and tense situation in the city.

The country cannot be run smoothly unless economic indicators and law and order situation improve, he said, adding it is hard to predict negative or positive situation after the elections.

Chairman North Karachi Association of Trade and Industry (NKATI) Syed Iqtida Ali said almost all the units out of 2,000 did not operate.

He said the economic activities were likely to remain laggard for the next four to five months as long as insecurity and lawlessness prevail.