KARACHI: The blockade of all major roads of Karachi on Friday adversely affected industrial and commercial activities in the city.
Following the loss caused to the country’s economy, leading industrialists and businessmen urged major political parties to resolve their disputes peacefully without hurting the economy.
“The blockade of main roads has certainly hurt industrial and commercial activities in the industrial and financial capital of the country,” Iftikhar Ahmed Vohra, President of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), told The Express Tribune.
Since all the major arteries of the city were closed, most of the workers and industrial staff could not reach their workplaces and that resulted in at least 50% drop in industrial output, Vohra said.
In an apparent reference to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) rallies, the KCCI published advertisements in leading newspapers a few weeks ago, urging people not to take part in protests and demonstrations.
It pointed out that these activities were proving deadly for a stable economic environment in the country.
“We are not against any political party. We do not take sides but yes we certainly take sides when it comes to economic growth and want the political parties to resolve their disputes peacefully,” Vohra said when asked about the rare advertisements.
After the strong stance taken by the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), the KCCI is the first leading chamber that has been openly criticising political rallies and road blockades by the opposition parties.
FPCCI President Zakaria Usman was not available for comments. Representatives of the two biggest town associations – SITE Association of Industry (SAI) and Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI) – said Friday saw a low industrial output.
SAI Chairman Jawed Bilwani said some 50% of industrial activity in one of the largest industrial zones of Karachi could not take place in the wake of the strike call.
The main reason for the low industrial activity was the absence of managerial staff from factories who could not reach their offices, he added.
The city was effectively closed and this definitely affected the country’s exports and other commercial activities. According to rough estimates, Karachi shipped almost half of the country’s exports and a one-day closure meant a loss of Rs3.3 billion in exports, he argued.
KATI President Rashid Siddiqui said sit-ins were damaging businesses of major cities in particular and the entire country in general.
In addition to this, he said, they affected a wider section of society including employees, daily-wage earners, transporters and other segments.
“The country is facing many challenges and such activities will further compound the problems,” he said. “I am not in favour or against any such activities, but I consider them harmful for the whole country.”
Others were of the opinion that the political parties should settle issues in parliament instead of disturbing public life by holding sit-ins and rallies.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 13th, 2014.
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COMMENTS (4)
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Was this the first ever lockdown of Karachi...Perhaps it was the first one ever without violence. #GoNawazGo...You got to go.
When a man protested in the assembly, they do not listen, whenhe protested in the capital, they do not listen, when he protested in cities, they did not listen, Now he locking down the streets you are blaming him? Who is taking the country to chaos, the peaceful protester or a dictatorial ruler who is daring him to come to his level otherwise no head to his protest? Who is taking the country back to politics of 90s? the peaceful protester or the one who is daring him to show the metal on streets? Come on you guys open your eyes and stop being dumb!
It is time you should stop blaming the protester and start pressuring the rulers to come up to the international standards of democracy where peaceful protests shakes the avenues of government. Because the protestor whether only one or million of them are still citizens of the country and government is not a mob rule where one gang satisfy its own and subjugate others, it is for all the citizens.
No politician, including Imran Khan gives a hoot about people. They all have their political agendas and nothing is more important to them - certainly welfare of country or its people is NOT on their mind. I wish laws be amended so that those who suffer because of political parties hartall can sue them for damages,
IK is taking country back to the stone age.