July 14, 2008	Monday	Rajab 10, 1429

FAISALABAD, July 13: Industrialists will hold a rally on Monday to press the government to annul the recent hike in prices of gas and electricity and meet their other demands. The decision was taken at a meeting held at the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industries on Sunday, attended by representatives of various industrial and trade bodies.

The industrialists have been on strike since Friday in response to a call given by the Faisalabad Chamber.

Sizing, dyeing, printing, processing, hosiery and powerloom units have remained closed, rendering nearly a million labourers jobless.

A one-day suspension of work in textile units in Faisalabad causes a loss of Rs85 million. The industry in the district annually earns nearly $4 billion of foreign exchange.

The industrialists have set up a protest camp at the Clock Tower intersection as an expression of solidarity.

They told media personnel that the government’s attitude had compelled them to hold protests, because they had been facing a financial crisis making it impossible for them to run their factories.

They urged the government to solve people’s problems, instead of visiting London and Dubai.

Announcing the protest rally’s route, FCCI’s office-bearers said it would start from the chamber’s premises at 11am and terminate at the Clock Tower after passing through the Zila Council Chowk.

The All Pakistan Powerlooms Association announced that it would join the FCCI protest on Monday if the government did not resolve the issues.

Member of the FCCI’s action committee Waheed Khaliq said that the government had not yet contacted industrialists.

About 14 trade and industrial associations and the Faisalabad Chamber have demanded withdrawal of new gas and electricity increases, withholding tax, reduction in the banks’ mark-up and continuation of research and development facility.