May 01, 2007	Tuesday	Rabi-us-Sani 13, 1428

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TOBA TEK SINGH, April 30: Workers of cotton and silk powerlooms, sizing and other units related to this business have been rendered jobless as a result of frequent loadshedding of four to five hours a day.

The workers told newsmen on Monday that they were paid at the rate of weaving of per metre cloth but continuous loadshedding had taken their families on the verge of starvation.

On the other hand, factory owners said they were also facing financial loss due to loadshedding as they were unable to meet their export targets.

They said the situation was aggravated due to power outages on the pretext of maintenance of system.

Computer colleges and Internet cafe owners have also worried. They said the users were not coming to the clubs while the students have also stopped coming to colleges as a result of frequent loadshedding.

Students claimed that as the annual examinations were ahead, they were unable to study as electricity supply remained shut usually at the time of their study.

They have urged the education department to postpone their annual examinations for at least three months.

Villagers were angrier than the city dwellers. They said Wapda authorities considered them third-rate citizens and power supply remained suspended for four to eight hours a day and almost half of the night.

Moreover, people have also complained that the low voltage had damaged their gadgets like water pumps, fodder cutting machines, tubewells, refrigerators, air conditioners and fans.

LABOURER KILLED: A labourer was reportedly crushed to death on Monday in a wheat thresher.

Nadeem of Sarhand Colony was at work on a threshing in a nearby village when the accident took place.