11 million workers had lost their jobs or had been indirectly affected due to unscheduled electricity and gas suspensions at the textile units says Khwaja. DESIGN: TARIQ GILANI
The All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) has announced that it will hold a country-wide protest against the worsening electricity and gas shortages in the country. The protest will include demonstrations in front of the head quarters of all power supply companies.
APTMA head (south Punjab chapter) Anis Khwaja said that the mill owners and workers had run out of patience.
“We cannot afford electricity and gas load shedding for two to three days without any schedule,” he said, while talking to The Express Tribune.
He said that 11 million workers had lost their jobs or had been indirectly affected due to unscheduled electricity and gas suspensions at the textile units.
“We want the government to realise that playing politics with the industrial sector, which generates most foreign reserves for Pakistan, will cause unrest in the country.”
He said APTMA had given the government till December 27 to resolve the issue.
If not resolved by then, APTMA will take to the streets across the country on the morning of the 28th, he added.
He said the country was going through a tough time due to lack of planning to address the prolonged energy crisis.
More than two million people, including daily wagers and members of the textile mill association, business community and traders associations are expected to join the protest.
The All Pakistan Textile Mills Association will organise protests in front of all SNGPL, Water and Power Development Authority and ministry offices.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 26th, 2012.
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