Lockdown takes its toll
Workers and industrial staff could not reach workplaces, output drops 50%.
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.
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.