October 16, 2001	Tuesday	Rajab 28, 1422

KARACHI, Oct 15: The Monday’s strike by Pak-Afghan Defence Council partially affected the industrial output in three main industrial areas but industries in SITE did not feel much impact because of the arrangements made a day earlier.

Industrialists in Korangi, North Karachi and F.B. Area said that only 30-40 per cent of production activities were affected on Monday as the situation was not as tense as on Friday’s strike, which curtailed the manufacturing output by 50 per cent.

Some industries observed Monday as weekly holiday and Sunday as the working day, to offset the impact of the strike.

Supplies of finished products from the factories, however, remained suspended due to closure of retail and wholesale markets in Saddar, Water Pump, Karimabad, Jodia Bazar, Marriot Road, Clifton, Defence, Electronic and furniture markets and Kharadar throughout the day.

Activities like clearing of cheques by the banks, processing of shipping bills for export, arrival of vegetables and fruits and port operations remained at a low ebb as compared to normal days.

The chairman, SITE Association of Industry, Zakariya Usman told Dawn that majority of the association members had already had a heavy security arrangement from the Rangers which patrolled the area till 7.00 p.m. to tackle any untoward incident.

Further, majority of industries in the area had either observed Sunday as a working day or held back the night shift of Sunday, in order to ensure full production activities on Monday.

He said the morning shift workers could not reach at work due to complete suspension of traffic but the labour presence was almost satisfactory in the afternoon shifts due to restoration of buses and minibuses on various routes.

“I can safely say 30-40 per cent production suffered as compared to previous strike on Friday,” he said.

Vice Chairman, F.B. Area Association of Trade and Industry (FBATI), Farooq Bakali said a large number of industrialists had put on hold the night shift of Sunday, which could manage some production activities ranging between 30-40 per cent. In some industries, morning shifts were affected completely.

Industrialists in other areas like Korangi, Landhi and North Karachi also shared the same views, saying that the strike has partially affected their production activities.

Sources in National Institutional Facilitation Technologist (NIFT) said that the paucity of staff had hampered the cheque clearance very badly that is why NIFT staff, which usually leave the office at 5.00 p.m., had to sit till 8.30 p.m.

NIFT undertakes clearing of cheques on behalf of the banks. The sources in NIFT said the strike has increased the volume of cheque returns from many branches.

People could not turn up in branches, which were located in sensitive areas. However, attendance in banks’ head offices was recorded much higher as compared to Friday’s strike.

Sources in Export Collectorate said that only 200 shipping bills for exports in the Export Examination West Wharf were handled, showing a drop of 50 per cent as compared to normal days.

Situation in East Wharf Export Examination was also not satisfactory as only 41 shipping bills for export shipments were registered as compared to 200 in normal days, the sources said.

Subzi Mandi on Super Highway also saw arrival of only 70 trucks of vegetables and fruits on Monday as compared to 350-400 trucks in regular days, thus affecting sales at the Mandi and supplies to the city markets.

Trucks and trawlers could not reach the port due to fear of being set ablaze by angry violent mob, thus partially affecting handling of cargoes from the upcountry.

The Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) remained open despite tense business environment in city. Stocks increased by 3.72 per cent on signing of an agreement by the Hubco with Wapda withdrawing all cases and international Arbitration Proceedings against each other. The KSE 100 share index surged by 44.83 points or 3.72 per cent to close at 1,238.03. Kerb market for money exchange remained closed on Monday.