KARACHI, Sept 8: The trade and industry has opposed the proposed federal government move to observe two weekly holidays aimed at conserving energy.

Meanwhile, the Sindh government’s decision to first declare Monday as holiday and then reversing the decision on Sunday night created confusion among the workers, who in many industrial estates could not turn up in larger numbers affecting the production.

The business leaders are of the view that the government should observe two weekly holidays in the government offices and spare the industrial and trade sector from application of this proposed move.

Chairman Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (Kati) Shaikh Fazl-e-Jalil said that around half of the labour in the industrial area could not mark their attendance on Monday owing to lack of communication regarding the withdrawal of holiday decision by the new President-elect Asif Ali Zardari.

Besides, many workers, who had come to know about the change had taken it easy due to Ramazan and decided to stay at their homes.

He said that the one-day production loss at the Korangi industrial area amounted to Rs1.5 billion but the industrialists had definitely suffered half of the loss owing to confusion over holiday.

He said the industry was not in favour of two weekly offs as it would play havoc with the industrial production keeping in view the current economic conditions and falling exports.

Chief executive officer Federal B Area Industrial Trading Estate (Fite), Rehan Zeeshan said that the holiday confusion had resulted in causing 10-15 per cent less attendance in factories in the area on Monday.

He said that the Fite was also opposed to two days holiday move as this is being done without taking the business community into confidence.

Rehan said that the textile and other export-related industries run round the clock so they cannot afford to close down their units for two days as it would not be feasible both for local production as well as for exports.

Chairman North Karachi Association of Trade and Industry (Nkati), Noor Ahmed Khan said that despite confusion over Monday’s holiday the labourers in the area managed to turn up to their respective units.

On two days holiday, he urged the government to drop the idea as it will hit hard the daily wagers mainly, besides inflicting negative repercussions on the industrial production.

Former chairman Site Association of Industry Majyd Aziz said that production remained normal on Monday irrespective of the confusion caused by the withdrawal of holiday notice. However, he said that the two holidays’ proposal is not a pragmatic move at a time when industry needs to work round the clock.

He said that industry is already facing production losses due to load- shedding. “We need to run the industries at any cost,” he said urging the government to find a practical solution like curtailing line losses in KESC and encourage investment in solar and hydel power generation.

Acting president Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Zubair Tufail said that the government’s decision to withdraw the Monday’s holiday was a good step and will help in nation building.

He added that the new president has to face many problems inherited from the previous regime like trade deficit, devaluation of Pakistani currency, decrease in foreign exchange reserves, declining stock market index and inflation.

He said that immediate steps should be taken to overcome the power crises and food shortage and keep their prices under control to ensure their availability to the poor masses. He hoped that the new president will continue to consult the business community in all policies for economic uplift of the country.