KARACHI, Jan 4: Leaders of five major industrial hubs of the city on Friday demanded of the government to immediately take steps for security and safety of industries to avert December 27, 2007 like situation when a large scale destruction caused by miscreants and rioters to industry who after looting them set them ablaze thereby causing billions of rupees losses.

The eruption of violence soon after the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in Rawalpindi on December 27, engulfed the entire city of Karachi but it was unprecedented to see that the industry was for the first time main target of miscreants who ventured to cause maximum damage to industry by looting them and later setting them on fire, observed these leaders.

They strongly demanded of the government to immediately set up separate security apparatus for city’s industrial areas in collaboration with private sector and this job should be done in days and weeks so that any further plan to damage the country’s economy may be averted.

Addressing a press conference at the Karachi Press Club (KPC) the leaders of five industrial areas of city headed by S M Muneer also demanded that the President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Mohammadmian Soomro should immediately hold a meeting with business community and try to listen to their suggestions for setting up a separate security system for industrial areas with public-private collaboration.

Those who addressed the media included Chairman Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI) Fazly Jalil, Landhi Industrial Area Chairman Dawood Jakora, North Karachi Industrial Area Chairman Noor Mohammad, F B Industrial Area Chairman Adrees and other leaders also briefly spoke on the occasion were Mian Zahaid Husain and Abdul Haseeb Khan both former chairmen of KATI.

S M Muneer briefly gave details about business leaders’ meeting with Governor Sindh Dr Ishrat-ul-Ibad on the unprecedented destruction caused to the city’s industry. He said industry in KATI alone suffered up to Rs20 billion losses caused by looting and arson caused by miscreants who had a field day.

“It is matter of great concern that the city of Karachi which had been experiencing a lot many riots and violence in the past never witnessed any sort of damage or loss to industry and this is for the first time some hidden hands want to destroy the economy by crippling business hub of the country,” he maintained.

He appealed to the authorities to come forward and take suggestions from the business community so that no Dec 27, like massive destruction was done to industry in future which have caused a colossal loss of around Rs100 billion as had been disclosed by the President Pervez Musharraf in his address to the nation.

He said the business leaders raised a number of issues before the Governor of Sindh who politely responded to them and also explained as to why the government was not in a position to fully protect industrial areas and other citizen from the miscreants who opened hell for over three days on the city.

It was also said that in Korangi alone 16 industrial units were completely destroyed by setting them ablaze after looting them, seven banks were put on fire after they were looted, four petrol pumps were set on fire, three police stations, two car show rooms, SSGC and KESC offices were destroyed and one restaurant was set on fire. Besides, 45 long vehicles, 55 cars and vans were set on fire and completely destroyed. There were nine deaths in Korangi industrial area alone. Out of a total loss of around Rs100 billion 20 per cent or Rs20 billion was suffered by KATI industry, these leaders lamented.

It was also disclosed that over 7000 workers in a single industrial unit which was completely destroyed lost their jobs and there are many more may not be able to re-join in their work places as the industry is presently running under deep crisis. A Sri Lankan who invested in a garment factory and was exporting up to Rs1.25 billion was completely destroyed and turned into ashes, they added.

There was also strong demand that all kachchi abadis surrounding industrial areas should be removed as most of the miscreants used them during Dec 27 violence for looting and destroying industry which remained closed for more than three days, these leaders pointed out.

It was also suggested that government should immediately set up crisis management cell to face such eventualities because a huge city like Karachi with over 12 million people could not afford on trial and errors and there should be foolproof system for all sort of conditions and events.

These leaders also disclosed that during meeting with Governor Sindh it was revealed that in the province a total police force stands around 29,000 out of 9000 stations in Karachi. Similarly, Rangers strength is also far below the need and above all they do not have police power to arrest miscreants.

All the leaders expressed their grief and sorrow over the death of former Prime Minister Benzir Bhutto and said that they plan to take a delegation to Larkana for condolence with Asif Ali Zardari and his children and added that the nation lost a great leader who had a futurist look having global recognition.