January 04, 2009	Sunday	Muharram 06, 1430

SWABI, Jan 3: The industrialists of Gadoon Amazai Industrial Estate (GAIE) have shelved their proposed protest march towards Peshawar and Islamabad after assurance by the district administration and Pesco to ensure smooth supply of electricity to the industrial zone.

The assurance was given by local administration and Pesco officials during a meeting with the industrialists here on Saturday.

The Gadoon Estate workers and Gadoon Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) members and Textile mills owners also staged a protest demonstration on Saturday demanding immediate restoration of power supply to the industrial units.

It was for the first time that the entrepreneurs and workers of the Gadoon Estate were gathered on a single platform and vowed to continue their struggle till acceptance of the their demands.

Addressing the demonstrators, president of GCCI Fazal Amin said that they would hold peaceful protests to press for their demands and to ensure peace and working environment in the industrial units.

He asked the authorities concerned to take effective measures to restore the confidence of the investors.

Liaqat Ahmad Khan, former president of Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry said on the occasion if the government could take remedial measures for power supply to industrial units in Faisalabad, Karachi and other parts of Pakistan then why the Gadoon Estate was being ignored.

“Both the industrialists and workers were ready to render sacrifices for running the factories because their livelihood is at stake due to their closure”. However, he stressed for peaceful protests, saying we would not create problems for the government at this critical stage.

Liaqat Ali, owner of the Mizan Textile Mills, said on the occasion that the district administration had assured them to take up the issue with the elected representatives including ministers and the chief minister to ensure uninterrupted power supply to the factories.

Mr Ali said the holly month of Muharram was also a cause behind shelving the protest plan.