RAWALPINDI: More than 400 industrial units in Rawalpindi region have been partially closed for more than one month. Reason: industrialists have been unable to transport material to other cities and bring in raw material for their industrial units due to the ongoing protests.

Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) Vice President Malik Shahid Saleem told Dawn that more than 400 industrial units in the region had shut down due to the political situation in the country.

He said, for the last one month, industrialists had failed to transport their products to other cities or bring raw material to the city.

“Two US and Switzerland-based firms announced that they are devising a new policy regarding Pakistan, in light of the prevailing situation, as containers of their partner companies were being used as public toilets by the protesters,” he claimed.

He said the industry in Rawalpindi region was known for its poultry products, pharmaceuticals and marble. “Since transportation is hindered, the industrialists have failed to complete their assignments,” said Saleem.

“It is not possible to send the products to other cities amid fears of containers being impounded by the administrations across the province. Business cost is the same as traders still have to pay utility bills and wages to the labourers and employees,” he said, adding that “ultimately, the consumers will suffer a lot in the next few months, as the business community will raise prices of their products to overcome financial losses incurred in the last one month or so.”

Closure of roads, uncertain political situation and confiscation of containers have led to billions of rupees in losses

He said businesses were interrelated with each other and the stoppage of business in Rawalpindi and Islamabad will affect business in the adjoining areas and provinces.

“The data collected from the trade associations of the city and the cantonment shows that a loss worth billions of rupees was witnessed during last one month but the government will never take notice of the situation,” he said.

He demanded the government and the protesting parties to provide a conducive environment for businesses activities so that the country can return on the path of development.

Rawalpindi Traders Association (RTA) President Sharjeel Mir told Dawn that Rawalpindi was the main station of business activities for Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, and due to the political uncertainty the consumers from these areas are not coming.

“The number of buyers had already reduced on Murree Road, Commercial Market and Raja Bazaar due to construction of the metro bus service, and with the sit-ins, the situation has worsened,” he said.

Mir said people mostly sent clothes, grains and garments to Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan before the start of winter season, but under the present situation, they are not willing to send the consignments.

“Consumers from adjoining towns and villages could not visit the city because the administration had closed the roads,” he said and added that the locals also avoided the bazaars.

The RTA president said traders and shopkeepers wanted to launch a protest against PTI and PAT for damaging their business.

Cantonment Traders Association President Zafar Qadri told Dawn that the business community had already suffered financial losses due to the political tension in Islamabad; now the establishment has imposed more taxes on the traders too.

“We are getting inflated bills and notices from Federal Bureau of Revenue regarding sales taxes. It will force the business community to raise prices of products to overcome their financial losses,” he added.

RCCI former president Syed Asad Mashhadi said the economy was badly affected and all the new deals had been stopped.

“If an unconstitutional government or any other government came to power, then policies will definitely be changed and the business community will have to stop work on new projects,” he said.

Published in Dawn, September 10th , 2014