October 18, 2007	Thursday	Shawwal 5, 1428

KARACHI, Oct 17: The expected arrival of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto has created some economic activity, like booking of halls, procurement of tents and placement of huge food orders for political workers.

In sharp contrast, her arrival on Thursday may hamper industrial production, particularly in Korangi and Landhi areas as blockade of roads, non-availability of transport and fear of violence may result into thin presence of workers.

Around 50 per cent daily wagers will have to sit idle on Thursday as a majority of industrial operators in Korangi area have decided to close units in anticipation of a complete blockade of roads and law and order situation.

In Landhi area, 50 to 60 per cent unskilled and daily wagers will have to sacrifice their income.

Industrial output in Site, F.B. Area and North Karachi will largely depend on law and order situation after the PPP chairperson’s arrival.

Chairman, Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI) Masood Naqi, was, however, of the view that the democratic process should run and be encouraged but not at the cost of hampering industrial activities.

He said a majority of the industrialists had decided to keep their industries close as private and public transporters had already intimated their inability to bring their vehicles on roads.

Korangi industrial area has over 4,000 small and big units.

“The political parties should have arranged some separate places and areas outside the city where they can manage their political gatherings without disturbing economic and business activities,” he suggested and added that over 1.5 million people are directly and indirectly employed in Korangi and Landhi industrial areas.

Senior Vice Chairman, Landhi Association of Trade and Industry (LATI, Dawood Usman Jhakora, said industries would remain open on Thursday but it depends how many workers could manage to register their attendance.

However, he feared 30 per cent drop in attendance in medium and big units and about 50 per cent decline in small units as workers and staffers living in other areas will hardly make it due to closure of Sharea Faisal and non-availability of transport. “Only those workers will arrive who live nearby in Korangi and Landhi areas or at walking distances,” he added.

Landhi has over 1,400 small to big size units in which over 250,000 workers and staffers are employed. Of which 50-60 per cent are unskilled and daily wagers.

Karachi Transport Ittehad president Syed Irshad Hussain Bukhari said that transport would ply as usual in the city on Thursday except at Sharea Faisal. However, he said some of members had informed him that PPP workers had taken up some vehicles on rental basis.

He said the city had a total 3,500 buses, 8,000 mini buses and 7,000 coaches.

Candidate of PPP for National Assembly seat (NA-250) and former Chairman Site Association of Dr Mirza Ikhtiar Baig said that a lot of economic activities had been generated like food arrangement, panaflex sign boards, banners, music arrangements, vehicles, booking of clubs etc., for the arrival of PPP chairperson.

Without giving the actual figures of huge expenditure in Karachi alone, he said it would in millions as workers, activists and leaders of the PPP had spent the amount on individual basis.